NJ water utility makes $10M water infrastructure investment

May 31, 2017

Middlesex Water Company announces funding for upgrades to water infrastructure in South Plainfield, NJ.

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ISELIN, NJ, MAY 31, 2017 -- Middlesex Water Company has announced that a $10.0 million project to replace aging water infrastructure is set to begin in the Borough of South Plainfield, New Jersey. As part of its 2017 RENEW Program, the utility company intends to replace five miles or 27,000 feet of water mains, as well as service lines, valves, fire hydrants and meters. The work is being performed to improve fire flows and overall service quality in the area as the new mains being installed have greater water carrying capacity.

"Through RENEW, one of several projects under our Water for Tomorrow® infrastructure investment campaign, we're proactively replacing aging water pipe to continually strengthen our water distribution infrastructure for continued service reliability, resiliency and water quality," said Dennis Doll, Middlesex Water President and Chief Executive Officer. "Addressing infrastructure needs -- on a planned schedule -- reduces the likelihood of future disruptive and costly emergency repairs," added Doll.

While the overall RENEW work is expected to take 6 months to complete, individual homes should only be affected for a few days as crews replace and install the new mains and meters. The project is being funded through low interest loans obtained from the NJ State Revolving Fund administered by the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

The Company determines which water mains are to be replaced based on historical records, coordination with adjacent infrastructure and analyses which take into consideration pipe information, asset condition assessment and other relevant operational and situational data. Main installation will conclude with compaction and temporary pavement restoration followed by final pavement restoration after the area has settled.