I, along with my wife, Hedy, was a resident of Old Township for more than 34 years from 1971-2005. All during that time, I became more and more aware of how important all of the many different departments that serve Old Bridge and its residents were and continue to be.
One such department is the Old Bridge Municipal Utilities Authority (OBMUA), located in the Cliffwood Beach section of the township, under the leadership and direction of Arthur Haney, a former mayor of Old Bridge.
Recently, I met with Mr. Haney and was able to compile a list of the many services he and his staff provide to the residents of Old Bridge, and I wanted to share them with you, the readers of the Suburban.
The OBMUA was incepted back in the early- to mid-1950s and has a staff of about 60 employees.
Old Bridge Township (formerly Madison Township) is about 40-50 square miles in size with a population of about 65,000 residents, making it the third largest township in all of Middlesex County.
The primary function of the OBMUA is to provide to its residents a safe, ongoing supply of drinking water. Of course, the need for a constant flow of water also plays a major role toward fire-damage prevention should the need arise.
Most of the water the OBMUA provides comes from underground aquifers known as the Farrington Sands, while some also comes from the Middlesex Water Company. The water is constantly treated to remove contaminants, iron and all impurities to make it safe 24-7 for drinking as well as other needs.
Every year the OBMUA provides to all Old Bridge taxpayers and residents an annual report of the water it provides in terms of quality and safety. Every year the reports have been very positive in that the water provided demonstrates all indices falling into acceptable guidelines.
Besides annual reporting, there are water-testing stations all around Old Bridge, and water is being tested and checked monthly as well as quarterly for any deficiencies, to maintain its high quality and standards.
About five years ago, the OBMUA, under the leadership of Executive Director Art Haney, decided to improve the way and manner in which the amount of water is metered in businesses and homes throughout the township. With regard to the homes, a new state-of-the-art computerized monitoring system is now in place, whereby meter readers not only do not have to go into one’s home anymore to read, they do not even have to go on one’s property. Meters can be read from OBMUA vehicles with staff using this new equipment.
Old Bridge has had one of the best quality drinking-water systems in the state, and I have to believe a great deal of that result is the hard work and dedication of the entire OBMUA staff and Mr. Haney.
Although I do not live in Old Bridge anymore, I will always remember the fine quality of the water and know that quality still exists today.
Kudos, so well-deserved, to Mr. Haney and his staff.
Michael D. Kaufman
Jackson