South Orange moves ahead in new relationship with NJAW

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — The South Orange Water Committee has chosen American Water Contract Services for the purpose of negotiating a maintenance and operating agreement, according to a Nov. 16 release from South Orange Village. Once a draft agreement has been negotiated, that draft will be the topic of a hearing, the record of which shall remain open for comment for seven days. A transcript of the hearing, with comments and a report prepared by the committee, will be forwarded to the Department of Environmental Protection for review, and to the Board of Public Utilities and the Local Finance Board for approval. The South Orange Water Committee is composed of trustees Howard Levison and Walter Clarke, as well as the village administrator, engineer and counsel.

The underground piping connection to the water system of New Jersey American Water is progressing as scheduled and should be completed this year, according to the village. Construction of the booster pump facility, to be constructed at the DPW yard, will commence early next year. The entire interconnection, including the booster pump, will be operational and ready for testing well before the termination of the current agreement with the East Orange Water Commission on Dec. 31, 2016.

HDR, the water consultant for the village, has completed a system condition study, which includes assets such as the standpipe and water sphere, which pursuant to DEP directive require rehabilitation. An RFQ for consulting services to relocate antenna to permit rehabilitation of the water sphere has been advertised.