Plumsted takes a step toward treatment plant

By ANDREW MARTINS

Staff Writer

PLUMSTED A draft permit that would allow for the creation of a surface water discharge system was recently issued by the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and is being touted by officials as a milestone for the New Egypt Redevelopment Plan.

The permit, which awaits final approval from the DEP, is one step of many needed by Plumsted in order to begin work on a sewer system that would serve downtown New Egypt and facilitate the construction of about 100 age-restricted homes on Province Line Road.

Municipal officials said the DEP permit will pave the way for the installation of a tertiary waste water treatment plant at 933 Route 537. Plans indicate the plant would release clean, treated water into Crosswicks Creek.

Business Administrator Ronald Dancer has said in the past that a sewer system would not be feasible without a surface water discharge system.

Mayor Jack Trotta said failing waste water systems in the area have caused raw sewage to make its way into Crosswicks Creek and Oakford Lake.

A sewer system will eliminate this from happening, giving us cleaner water in the lake and creek, Trotta said. This benefits not only the water in our area, but all the way downstream.

The draft permit sets limits for the system, including the acceptable amounts of phosphorous, nitrates, total dissolved solids and heavy metals found in the treated water.

A statement released by the Plumsted Municipal Utilities Authority (PMUA) said the township is proposing to employ an advanced membrane filtration process in the treatment plant that would use ultraviolet disinfection processes before releasing the treated water into the creek.

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Plumsted takes a step toward treatment plant