From Susan Goetz: REDUCE WATER USE TO LIMIT POLLUTING RUNOFF

[Dan Mulligan]

From Committee Woman Susan Goetz:                 

CUSTOMERS OF MCUA ADVISED TO FURTHER REDUCE WATER USE TO LIMIT POLLUTING RUNOFF INTO RARITAN RIVER AND RARITAN BAY


The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has asked that all residents conserve water while they continue to restore power to various water and sewer facilities throughout the state. For further details go to www.nj.gov/dep/docs/ao20121101.pdf



(12/P139) TRENTON - Residents and businesses in the 38 towns served by the
Middlesex County Utilities Authority's wastewater treatment system are
advised to further minimize water use to reduce stress on the storm-damaged
sewage treatment system and help limit polluting effluent now flowing into
the Raritan River and Raritan Bay.

The MCUA, which serves 797,000 customers in Middlesex, Somerset and Union
counties, is working closely with the state Department of Environmental
Protection, federal Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers to repair pump station damage caused by severe flooding that is
currently limiting treatment to all but about 25 percent of the system's
customers.

"While the Governor already has issued an executive order calling for
mandatory water use restrictions, we are asking MCUA customers to be extra
diligent in conserving water to slow the flow of effluents into the river
and bay, and limit environmental impacts '' said DEP Commissioner Bob
Martin. 

The MCUA's treatment plant is fully operational but two of its three pump
stations, which normally handle 110 million gallons of wastewater daily, are
not working, so wastewater is not being shipped to the treatment facility.
The result is the discharge of untreated sewage into the waterways.

About 3 million gallons a day is being processed through the MCUA's South
Amboy pump station. It is anticipated that the Edison pump station, which
processes about 20 million gallons a day, will be on line later this week. 

The MCUA's main pump station, the Sayreville station, is currently off line
but has a temporary bypass pump system in place to handle about 20 million
gallons a day. It normally processes 75 million gallons daily. All
electrical equipment at the Sayreville facility, including pumps, motors and
electric control are being disassembled, dried, tested and reassembled. 

The following towns are served by the MCUA: Bound Brook, Bridgewater,
Carteret, Cranbury, Dunellen, East Brunswick, Edison, Fanwood, Franklin
Township, Green Brook, Helmetta, Highland Park, Jamesburg, Metuchen,
Middlesex Borough, Milltown, Monroe Township, New Brunswick, North
Brunswick, North Plainfield, Old Bridge, Perth Amboy, Piscataway,
Plainfield, Sayreville, Scotch Plains, South Amboy, South Bound Brook, South
Brunswick, South Plainfield, South River, Spotswood, Warren Township,
Watchung and Woodbridge.

The Governor's Administrative Order on water use includes the following
statewide water use restrictions, prohibitions and exemptions:
* All indoor water use, including showers, baths, toilet flushing, and
domestic cleaning, must be conducted with minimum amounts of water;    
* Non-essential outdoor water use is prohibited; 
* Watering of grass, lawns and landscapes is prohibited except for
newly sodded or seeded areas done by professional landscapers or immediately
following a commercial application of fertilizer, pesticide or herbicides;
minimum amount of water should be used during these applications; 
* Use of water for washing paved surfaces, such as streets, sidewalks,
driveways, garages, parking lots and patios is prohibited; 
* Outdoor use of water for ornamental or aesthetic purposes, including
fountains, artificial waterfalls, and reflecting pools is prohibited, except
to preserve or support wildlife 
* Use of water for municipal street sweeping is allowed only with
non-potable water and with minimal use necessary; 
* Use of water for power washing of buildings is prohibited except for
commercial enterprises engaged in power washing, and with minimum water use;

* Car and truck washing, except for emergency vehicles, is prohibited;

* Commercial car washing is allowed but with reduced rinse cycles and
use of recycled water for pre-rinsing of vehicles; 
* Cars and trucks at dealerships may only be washed just prior to
delivery, with wash time limited to three minutes; 
* Serving of water in restaurants, clubs, or other eating
establishments is prohibited unless specifically requested by patrons. 

To read the Governor's Executive order, visit:
http://nj.gov/infobank/circular/eocc106.pdf

To read the DEP's Administrative order, visit:
http://www.nj.gov/dep/docs/ao20121101.pdf


####




- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This message has been
sent by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.  To
unsubscribe from this list, please go
to:
http://www.nj.gov/dep/newsrel/unsub.htm