NJ I-BANK WATER INFRASTRUCTURE NEWS (WIN): NORTH HUDSON SEWER AUTHORITY BOULEVARD EAST SEWER IMPROVEMENTS

completed stormwater improvements by borrowing approximately $15.9 million in loans from the NJ Water Bank, a low-rate funding program jointly administered by the NJDEP and the NJ Infrastructure Bank ("I-Bank"). Because these improvements directly address CSO impacts within a regulated sewer shed, the project qualified for $12.6 million in principal forgiveness ("PF"). Over the 30-year loan term, the project is estimated to save NHSA approximately $18.6 million through PF and reduced interest costs, compared to if NHSA had financed the project independently. Total savings exceeded the project's $15.9 million cost dramatically reducing the impact on the Authority's rate payers. In addition, this project created an estimated 190 direct one-year construction jobs. 

NHSA is a regional wastewater treatment system servicing four municipalities; Hoboken, Union City, West New York, and Weehawken. The core of the collection system is a combined sewer network meaning most of its network relies on the same pipes to carry both sanitary wastewater and stormwater. Combined sewer systems are often associated with flooding and water quality challenges. Communities can improve performance through targeted, cost-effective upgrades rather than full system separation. In Weehawken, areas along Highwood Avenue were experiencing "surcharging," a condition where pipes become overloaded during storms, leading to backups and increased risk of combined sewer overflows (CSOs). To address this, NHSA implemented a stormwater diversion project that redirects excess flow from overloaded streets to a nearby portion of the system along Boulevard East that had available capacity. 

By redistributing stormwater within the existing combined system, the project reduces localized flooding, relieves pressure on overburdened pipes, and helps decrease the frequency of untreated discharges into nearby waterways. This financial support reflects a broader state and federal priority to advance water quality improvements in dense urban areas, where full sewer separation is often prohibitively expensive. In this case, targeted infrastructure upgrades deliver environmental and public health benefits while keeping costs manageable for the community.  

According to Richard F. Turner, Mayor of Weehawken, "This project solves real problems our residents face, from street flooding to protecting our waterways. By making smart upgrades to its infrastructure, our NHSA has improved our quality of life today while planning responsibly for the future. With support from the Water Bank, the NHSA has delivered these critical improvements to be environmentally effective and fiscally responsible." 

This project was managed by Jacobs Engineering and designed by Jacobs Engineering and Mott McDonald and constructed by Underground Utilities Corporation. 

Picture courtesy of Jacobs Engineering