FREEHOLD – An $81,668 increase has been authorized by the Borough Council in Freehold Borough in the contract for the construction of the municipality’s new water treatment plant on Waterworks Road in Freehold Township.
On May 17, council members authorized the increase in the contract with Coppola Services Inc., Ringwood. The change order is the second approved by the governing body.
The contract with Coppola Services was authorized in 2020 and totaled $7.83 million. After two change orders, the contract now totals $7.96 million.
According to a resolution, the increase was necessitated by unforeseen conditions and changes to the overall contract scope, including modifying residuals piping to include an air release valve and a remote actuated valve due to high ground water encountered.
There were also modifications to the waste system, including the reduction of the size of the holding tank, the installation of an aerator and the installation of an analyzer recycle system to minimize the waste generated.
The increase also resulted from under slab plumbing modification to include drainage for an analyzer recycle system, a credit for the removal of backwash tank floor coating from the scope and direct reimbursement of a new electrical service from Jersey Central Power and Light. Furthermore, there was a new pump and column pipe at Well No. 9, according to the resolution.
Security improvements, coordinated with Freehold Borough officials, were part of the change order. Finally, there was a reduction in the scope of work days for the abandonment of a well.
Freehold Borough’s existing water treatment plant on Waterworks Road in Freehold Township was constructed in 1949 and most recently upgraded in 1977.
Several years ago, Freehold Borough officials determined the treatment plant had reached the end of its useful service life. Council members authorized the construction of a new treatment plant across Waterworks Road from the existing plant.
Construction on the new water treatment plant is continuing.
