BERGEN COUNTY UTILITIES AUTHORITY NORTHERN VALLEY FORCE MAIN IMPROVEMENTS

The Bergen County Utilities Authority ("BCUA") recently completed clean water improvements that are being financed with approximately $3.7 million in loans from the NJ Water Bank, a low-rate funding program jointly administered by the DEP and the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank ("I-Bank"). Total savings for this project are estimated to be $2 million over the 30-year term of the loan or 54% of the project cost, in comparison to the BCUA financing the project on its own. This project also created an estimated 43 direct construction jobs. 

The BCUA operates a system which consists of gravity sewer lines, pumping stations, and force mains that convey wastewater discharge from individual municipal collection systems, and which transports the discharge to its plant in Little Ferry for treatment and disposal. The collection system encompasses approximately 108 miles of sewer lines and nine pumping stations serving all or part of 46 municipalities in Bergen County. The Northern Valley Force Main ("NVFM") was originally installed using 42-inch diameter prestressed concrete cylinder pipe (PCCP) likely manufactured in the mid to late 1970's. The NVFM serves a population of about 536,000 in 46 municipalities conveying approximately five to six million gallons of sewage per day to the Little Ferry Treatment Plant with a current peak capacity of 109 million gallons per day. This project replaces approximately 260 linear feet of pipe that was identified in a 2014 inspection as deficient. The project also includes the installation of four air release valves proposed at gas pocket locations detected during the same inspection. 

Bergen County Commissioner, Germaine M. Ortiz acknowledged that "Investing in infrastructure may often go unnoticed by the public, but its impact on the community is significant. BCUA's dedication to upgrading these essential systems ensures long-term reliability and efficiency. By financing through the Water Bank, we're reducing project costs and passing these savings on to ratepayers. This is a prime example of how smart financial strategies can benefit both our residents and the environment." 

This project was designed by Arcadis and constructed by J. Fletcher Creamer & Son, Inc.

Pictures courtesy of Arcadis.