BRICK TOWNSHIP MUA RESERVOIR INFRASTRUCTURE MITIGATION IMPROVEMENTS

The Brick Township MUA ("MUA") recently closed on two loans from the NJ I-Bank to support a project jointly funded by the NJ Water Bank and the NJ Resiliency Bank. In addition to these loans, the MUA secured a Pre-Disaster Mitigation grant from FEMA. The total project cost is $9,277,100. Of that amount, the federal government contributed $2,826,104, with a required non-federal match of $942,050, which was covered by a $1,040,000 loan from the NJ Resiliency Bank—also accounting for an additional 10% of the project costs. The remaining $8,237,100 financed through the NJ Water Bank included contingency funds.

The project reinforced the upper slopes of the township's man-made raw water reservoir to prevent erosion when water levels drop. Currently, erosion limits the reservoir's usable storage to just the top five feet (between elevations 95 and 100 feet above sea level). This project will stabilize an additional 15 feet of the slopes (down to elevation 80), increasing the reservoir's capacity when the river intake is unavailable. The work involves removing the existing sand layer over the liner and adding a protective layer of geotextile fabric, gravel, and stone. By strengthening the reservoir's banks, this project enhances climate resilience, protects the drinking water supply, and ensures the long-term reliability of this critical infrastructure.