N. Wildwood, DEP Link for Flood Mitigation Project

NORTH WILDWOOD – The City of North Wildwood is working with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) on a flood hazard mitigation project to construct a pump station in the city’s Olde New Jersey/Spruce Avenue parking lot, adjacent and through the seawall. 
According to a release, the pump station will alleviate flooding along the city’s emergency access route.
The project will consist of upgrading a large portion of the storm drainage system, and replacing several stormwater outfall lines that empty onto the inlet beach.
The pump station project will also include a gravity system that will drain normal amounts of stormwater during normal rain and minor flooding events, and the pump system will enable the drainage of more severe rain and flooding events.
The pump system will be activated automatically during major coastal flooding events to ensure that Central Avenue/Spruce Avenue/Anglesea Drive/New Jersey Avenue remain accessible.
There is only one emergency access route out of North Wildwood, and one of three off the Five Mile Beach. This route must remain accessible not only for the residents/homeowners of the Wildwoods but also for emergency response vehicles, such as ambulances and fire engines during potential mass casualty events.
The pumps will be below ground level and placed adjacent to the seawall at Olde New Jersey Avenue. They will be powered by electricity and will have a backup generator in the event of loss of power. The generator will be constructed in the municipal parking lot that abuts Olde New Jersey Avenue.
“I would like to thank the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) for awarding North Wildwood the $10 million flood resiliency grant, which is historic in that it is the largest sum of any grant awarded to the city,” stated Mayor Patrick Rosenello. “This grant will help prevent flood damage, and keep the only entrance and exit into town (NJ147/ North Wildwood Boulevard) open in a major flooding event or emergency.”