Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Water Pumping Station to be Constructed in South Orange


South Orange, New Jersey: A new water pumping station will be constructed in South Orange. 

New Jersey American Water (NJAW) will construct the facility near the Maplewood border along the driveway to the South Orange Department of Public Works off of Walton Avenue. It will be located 50 yards and across the driveway from the former Jersey Animal Coalition shelter, according to Peter Eschbach of NJAW.

Eschbach told Essex County Place that construction will likely begin in March. "Our plan is to work weekdays from seven to five", said Eschbach, who added that "besides delivery trucks for materials, the station construction will be limited to the site and will include the intermittent operation of construction equipment consistent with light construction". 

The South Orange Board of Trustees approved the project, which will be located on wooded Village property, on January 25. 

It sits just up the road from an abandoned water pumping station, which will be demolished in the near future to make way for the new South Orange Greenway. New Jersey American Water, which also serves the neighboring townships of Maplewood and West Orange, will become South Orange's water provider in 2017. South Orange's water has been supplied by the East Orange Water Commission (EOWC) for decades. 

EOWC has been embattled in controversy for several years. In 2014, commission officers admitted to hiding levels of tetrachloroethene in the water. In 2013, EOWC was fined over $400,000 for violating state water quality regulations. In addition, the Village reported last week that perfluorinated chemicals above the state guidance level were found in a well at Grove Park in South Orange.

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