Project

NJ I-Bank Project of the Week: Ocean County Utilities Authority NWPCF Influent Screw Pump Improvements. Authority receives $3,126,061 in Water Bank loans. Estimated savings to ratepayers of $570,424.

The Ocean County Utilities Authority (“Authority”) recently completed a project to replace influent screw pumps at its Northern Water Pollution Control Facility (“NWPCF”). The project is being financed with approximately $3.1 million in loans from the NJ Water Bank, a program jointly administered by the NJDEP and the NJ I-Bank offering low-cost financing of water quality infrastructure projects. Total savings for this project is estimated to be $570,424 over the 30-year term of the loan or 18% of the total project cost. In addition, this project created an estimated 37 direct construction jobs.

The NWPCF in Brick Township, serves the northern service area of the Authority with eight pump and lift stations that convey wastewater to the NWPCF. This project replaced all four Archimedes spiral flight screw pumps that lift the influent wastewater to an elevation where it can flow by gravity through the treatment plant. Three of the screw pumps were installed in 2003, one was installed in 1994, and one failed, was rebuilt, and placed back in service.

The new screw pumps expand the Authority’s capacity to convey peak hourly flow with three influent pumps and a fourth for backup. The improved reliability reduced the potential for wastewater discharge.

Bill Curtis, Mayor of Bay Head Borough, one of the Authority’s major customers, applauded the project, declaring “Our Utility Authority is dedicated to managing our wastewater and reducing risks to public health. Improving reliability benefits all the communities they serve. Plus, the Archimedes screw pump is a fascinating piece of infrastructure as is the gravity fed piping. This project is a prime example of the OCUA implementing best practices at the lowest prices.”

This project was designed and managed by the technical staff at the Authority and constructed by Allied Construction Group.

Pictures courtesy of OCUA

Published January 4, 2023