SOUTH RIVER–The Borough Council approved a resolution for emergency repairs and improvements to be conducted at the borough’s water treatment plant.
The borough’s licensed water operator and borough engineer have recommended emergency repairs and improvements to the borough’s water treatment plant, according to the council agenda.
One of the latest actions taken by the council to address the borough’s recent water issues, the council approved the resolution on Aug. 19.
The emergency condition includes required repairs and improvements to the water treatment plant chlorine and lime room and for the analyzing equipment which require immediate attention since the conditions have created an imminent danger to the health, safety and welfare of the residents, according to the council agenda.
Municipal officials have obtained an estimate from Mike’s Mobil Maintenance for the cost of the required repairs in order to relieve the emergency situation and provide essential services to residents.
Borough Administrator Art Londensky said that Mike’s Mobil Maintenance LLC is working now and will continue to work as the new equipment is delivered.
“The treatment plant needs work, I am not going to deny it needs work. Most of the things done at the treatment plant were in the 1980s,” Londensky said. “It is now time to improve what we have.”
To help pay for the improvements, the council also approved and adopted a bond ordinance appropriating $925,000 for the work on Aug. 19. The ordinance proposes the issuance of $875,000 in bonds and a $50,000 down payment from the borough.
Council President Raymond Eppinger said, “As these issues have come up and it all started with the dirty water and the other things that happened with our licensed operator, I kid you not when I say that we actually dodged a bullet. It’s not going to do us any good to go back and say who should have and who did, but the steps are being taken and we are going to put in the proper procedures and policies so it does not happen again for any of our utilities.”
For more information, visit www.southrivernj.org/agendas/council/.
Contact Vashti Harris at [email protected].