COURT HOUSE – Representatives of N.J. American Water attended the Middle Township Committee work session Aug. 17 to discuss the potential installation of water connections in Del Haven. Despite a release and a posting on the township website, attendance from the public was moderate with a handful of residents present for the discussion.
N.J. American Water is one supplier of water to the township and is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state.
In Cape May County, the utility draws its source water from the Atlantic City 800-foot sand aquifer and the Kirkwood-Cohansey water-table aquifer. The committee was assured that capacity was not an issue in supplying water to Del Haven.
Like many throughout the township, residents in Del Haven draw water from private wells. Contaminants in the area have produced iron-based discoloration in the water leading to what Mayor Timothy Donohue said are many requests for municipal water.
One resident spoke of his two daughters who own a home in the area and work at a Lower Township restaurant. “They can’t wash their uniforms at home because of the water,” he said, “We have to do it.”
Concerns went beyond mineral contaminants. The area pays high fire insurance costs which would be lowered if a hydrant system connected to municipal water sources existed.
Committee member Michael Clark indicated that the volunteer fire company has expressed concerns to him about the issue.
In the end, the issue will be one of cost not capability. N.J. American Water officials noted all the engineering issues of design, routes for piping and the like exist, but there are no obstacles that would prevent delivery of water to the area if funding is available.
One of the first steps in assessing cost, officials suggested, is a survey of area residents to better understand the level of interest. Since residents would be responsible for the expense of their property connections to water service, it is critical to see how many in the area are actually willing to pay for municipal water service.
With that information, N.J. American Water would be in a position to return to the township with estimates of cost and any potential shortfalls.
N.J. American Water rates are governed by the state Board of Public Utilities. The company recently filed for a rate increase but no final determination on that request has yet been made.
The increase, if granted, would be the first since one requested in 2011 which went into effect in 2012. Typically any rate increase request in negotiated and an actual approved increase is less than the level requested.
The current request is for a 9.9 percent rate increase to cover the cost of improvements the company states it has made to aging infrastructure.
Another discussion before township committee is likely after the company completes a survey on interest among residents of Del Haven.
Other Business
Police Chief Christopher Leusner briefed the committee on attempts by the department to get retailers in the area to adopt electronic monitoring systems to prevent the taking of shopping carts.
Leusner wants to cut down on calls to the department over the large number of carts, valued, he said, at $150 to $200 apiece.
A typical prevention system involves attaching a locking wheel with a transmitter to each cart, when the cart leaves the perimeter of the parking lot, the wheel locks and the cart no long works.
Such a system is not foolproof and is expensive.
Many retailers have been reluctant to make the investment. Leusner has researched municipal ordinances in the state and found some instances where municipalities are essentially “forcing” retails to get involved in prevention systems by attaching fees to recovery of carts located by the police or public works.
Leusner believes electronic cart systems would in the end “save money” for the stores and reduce demands on the police department.
Chapter 208 of the township code deals with shopping carts. It provides for the owner of the cart to be notified with 24 hours of the township retrieving the cart. The owner has five days to reclaim the cart without cost to him. If that does not happen, a $50 per day fine can be imposed.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.
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