PROJECT OF THE WEEK: LONG BEACH TOWNSHIP FILTER ROOM & PUMP RECONSTRUCTION

Long Beach Township recently completed drinking water improvements that are being funded with approximately $9 million in loans from the NJ Water Bank, a joint low-rate funding program of the DEP and the NJ I-Bank. This project qualified for a Water Bank NANO loan which includes principal forgiveness totaling $500,000 as the project serves a population of 10,000 or less. Including interest cost savings, total savings for this project is estimated to be $3,215,343 over the 30-year term of the loan or 36% of the total project cost. In addition, this project created an estimated 108 direct construction jobs.  

The project consisted of the demolition and reconstruction of the Brant Beach filter room and associated pumps. The existing structure was built over 50 years ago with no flood protection. When Superstorm Sandy hit the barrier island in 2013, the building took on three feet of water, damaging filter components and pumps. These components were initially repaired on a temporary basis. However, with the reconstruction of homes destroyed in 2013 along with seasonal population spikes, the system was anticipated to fail.  

The project included the construction of filters, pumps, chlorine and lime rooms, a glass coated storage tank, a fiberglass aeration tank, and office. In addition, all required mechanical and electrical equipment was installed including water filter piping, a SCADA system, and a pump building with an emergency generator.  

Joseph Mancini, Mayor of Long Beach Township, stressed the need for the project. "We're dedicated to maintaining a clean and efficient water supply for the health of our community and the comfort of our summer guests. Renovating components of our infrastructure damaged by Superstorm Sandy has been an ongoing goal, and the NJ Water Bank has enabled this objective while benefitting our ratepayers financially over time." 

This project was designed by Owen Little engineering and constructed by Quad Construction. 

Picture courtesy of  Owen Little Associates