SPOTSWOOD – The council approved a bond ordinance to finance various water main improvements at different locations within the borough.
Improvements are planned for Lettau Drive, Elmer Avenue and Clark Street, according to the council agenda.
“The mains on these roads are currently four-inch diameter cast iron water pipe, and in some areas transite pipe, that are heavily tuberculated with mineral deposits which can impact water quality and fire flow,” Borough Administrator Dawn McDonald said.
“For Lettau Drive, we are installing a new eight-inch diameter cement lined ductile iron pipe from Erickson Avenue to Lakeview Drive, and also in Newark Avenue, between Lettau Drive and Herman Drive,” she explained. “For Elmer Avenue and Clark Avenue, we are replacing the four-inch diameter pipes that currently dead end at Adams Place, with six-inch diameter cement lined ductile iron pipe along all three roads. This would create a complete loop in this portion of the water system.”
According to McDonald, there have been water quality issues in this area over the years. The borough was not aware of the tuberculation until test pits were recently dug and sections of the pipe were removed to evaluate the interior section.
The estimated cost of the project is $850,000. The borough is using $42,500 of its own funds as a down payment and will bond for the remainder of the costs, according to McDonald.
She said the borough must have funds dedicated to the project prior to authorizing any work; therefore, a bond ordinance is required. The council approved the first reading of the ordinance on Sept. 25. The second and final adoption reading for the bond ordinance was scheduled for Oct. 11, according to Mayor Edward Seely.
“Once necessary funding is in place, we can authorize the borough engineer to design and develop bid specifications for the project. After a public bid, the project will be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder,” McDonald said.
Cold temperatures are not suitable conditions for projects of this nature; therefore, the borough anticipates that construction will commence in early spring, according to McDonald.
“There are infrastructure problems in the borough that need to be addressed. Rectifying the issues will take time and money. Though it may seem slow, there is progress being made and those efforts will continue,” Seely said.
During a meeting on Aug. 14, residents who live in the areas where the borough is planning to provide various water mains improvements voiced their concerns about their water.
Resident Kathleen Malone said that due to her water having a bad smell and being orange colored, workers from the borough’s water department come to her house constantly.
“I have them smelling the water because there is a stench and when I take a shower I smell like an aluminum can. It’s very concerning to me. I have a child. I am worried about what this does to my insides. We are drinking the water, we are cooking with the water, we’re brushing our teeth with the water. I can’t own a white shirt, forget about it, one wash – orange,” Malone said. “I am just really concerned about the water. It’s been so many years and it’s getting worse and worse.”
Resident Pete Demetrio said that he has lived in Spotswood for 19 years. During the meeting, Demetrio brought rusted water filters to show the council his house’s current water quality.
“Our pool liner went, so I had to refill my pool. We started filling up the pool [and] before we knew it the pool liner was gone and it was just constant rust going into the pool, you couldn’t even see the bottom,” Demetrio said. “So, I decided to drain the pool completely … and then I brainstormed and said you know, what let me buy a whole house filter, put it in line with my hose and we will get clean water. It did give me clean water, but eight hours [later] each filter completely rusted, so I had to change the filter four times.”
Demetrio also brought photos of his bathroom sink and towel bowel to show the council, saying that the water is hard to clean.
For more information, visit www.spotswoodboro.com/agendas.html.
Contact Vashti Harris at vharris@newspapermediagroup.com.
