By Jennifer Ortiz
Staff Writer
HOWELL – Representatives of New Jersey American Water are seeking municipal approval to expand the company’s Oak Glen regional water treatment plant at 200 Squankum-Yellowbrook Road, Howell.
“It is a regional treatment plant that supplies drinking water and water for domestic use to Howell, Lakewood and other parts of Ocean County,” said attorney Niall J. O’Brien, who represents the company.
O’Brien said the expansion of the treatment plant is to facilitate an increase in the capacity from 10 million gallons a day to 15 million gallons a day. O’Brien said the expansion is planned to meet increasing demands now and in the future.
New Jersey American Water External Affairs Manager Richard Barnes said the company purchases water from the New Jersey Water Supply Authority that is treated at the Oak Glen plant. Barnes said the source of water will remain the same when the plant is expanded.
At a recent meeting of the Howell Planning Board, the company received several technical waivers it sought as part of its application. The board’s planner, Jennifer Beahm, said she did not have any issues regarding the waivers that were sought by the applicant.
The waivers was granted in a unanimous vote by board Chairman Paul Schneider, Vice Chairman Robert Nash and board members George Gravatt, Thomas O’Donnell, Brian Tannenhaus, Kenneth French, Thomas Boyle and Mayor Bill Gotto.
Representatives of New Jersey American Water are expected to return before the board at 7 p.m. May 19 to present site plan details for the expansion of their Oak Glen facility.