CAPE MAY — Imagine the beaches here without outfall pipes, just sand, beachgoers and lifeguard stands.
At the 7th annual County Transportation Infrastructure Conference, County Engineer Dale Foster suggested a future project that could remove outfall pipes from Cape May’s beaches. He said a stormwater infrastructure improvement study by French and Parrello Associates was looking at the possibility of eliminating some outfall pipes.
“Currently, the county has nine outfall pipes on the beach there and every time we have a beach fill, we have to extend those pipes because they get clogged with sand…” said Foster.
He said the county was experiencing problems with outfall pipes, in particular Wilmington and Brooklyn avenues, which have been damaged by storms.
Foster said the county was hoping to eliminate as many outfall pipes as possible.
“Initial studies show we can eliminate two thirds of the pipes and just direct them all to one pipe,” he said.
Currently the county has 36 inch or 48 inch iron outfall pipes out on the beach, which are larger than needed as far as the amount of stormwater that runs through them. He said the pipes were that size to keep them from being washed away by waves and tides.
The outfall pipes are connected to storm sewers throughout the city.
Foster said one possibility is complete elimination of all the outfall pipes on the beach and constructing a “very large pump station.”
“That looks like it’s going to be a very costly proposition but it is something that we are looking at,” he said.
City Manager Bruce MacLeod told the Herald stormwater would be released into the back bay rather than the ocean. He said some of the outfall pipes on the beach are owned by the city.
MacLeod said discussions have not advanced to the point for the city to see if there would be an opportunity to join with the county in eliminating all the outfall pipes on the beach. He said if the process makes sense and is economically feasible, the city would consider joining with the county on the project.
Outfall pipes draining into the back bay would not need to be lengthened following beach replenish and only require general maintenance, said MacLeod.
