By KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer
METUCHEN — Much-needed improvements and repairs to the three sewage pumping stations at the pump station on Jersey Avenue may soon be underway.
The Borough Council unanimously voted in favor of a bond ordinance appropriating $2.82 million and authorizing $2.30 million in bonds or notes for various improvements and purposes, which were authorized to be undertaken by the borough at a special meeting in June.
Mayor Peter Cammarano said the bulk of the bond ordinance — $1.15 million — is for the pumping stations.
The borough experienced a near catastrophe when the three pumping stations, which the borough has in place to pump the water from home toilets, sinks and clothes/dishwashers, broke down the afternoon of June 18.
With a temporary fix — the installation of an emergency bypass system and “shoe strings, bubble gum and everything imaginable” — officials said they avoided the potential for backups in the streets and homes.
The borough has two pump stations located on Orchard Street and Jersey Avenue.
Fred Hall, director of Public Works, has said the pump station on Jersey Avenue, which was constructed in 1958, averages about two million gallons of sewage per day.
This sewage moves down Durham Avenue and joins sewage water from Edison behind the Pines Manor and eventually makes its way to the Sayreville Water Treatment Plant.
The improvements for the pump station also include a flow meter infiltration study as part of improvements to the sewers.
Cammarano said the repairs that the members of the Department of Public Works have made are short-term fixes that would buy the borough a maximum of one to two years.
The mayor said they have been working with Edison Township’s Department of Public Works since the sewage flow from Edison comes through the station in Metuchen and affects both communities.
“The pump station is in the borough, but it was built as a joint pump station,” said Cammarano.
Other items in the bond ordinance include a street sweeper in the amount of $220,000, which will be utilized by both the borough and the Parking Authority to maintain the streets and parking lots; improvements and repairs to Oakland Park on Oakland Avenue, including the acquisition of a composite play structure in the amount of $350,000; and overlay, drainage improvement and reconstruction of Durham Avenue and curb/sidewalk repair, including all materials necessary for or incidental to each of the foregoing purposes and improvements in the amount of $250,000.
