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TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—Township officials have agreed to expedite the state approval process to repair stream banks around two sanitary manholes that could contaminate Musquapsink Brook and ultimately threaten a drinking water source if undermined by fast-flowing waters.
Council president Michael DeSena noted that the area was fortunate when Hurricane Debby did not cause much damage, but warned that more hurricanes are likely.
He emphasized that the town’s officials and professionals should meet with the NJDEP to press for expedited approval of the township’s emergency permit to perform the necessary repairs.
Administrator Mark DiCarlo said the township would likely need to go out for bids once the emergency stream repairs are approved, possibly later this year or early in 2025.
Officials initially estimated the cost of repairs at $700,000, which includes stream bank stabilization using repurposed sediment from in-stream sediment shoals.
The two “critical” sanitary manhole situations along the brook were first identified in Boswell’s drone study of Musquapsink Brook, published in early 2023 but not publicly released until Pascack Press requested the report in April 2023. See our article, “Drone Study Highlights Brook Obstructions, Recommends Ways to Improve Flow, Stem Flooding,” Michael Olohan, April 17, 2023, PascackPress.com.
DeSena expressed concern that if the manholes were undermined and contaminated sewer water entered the brook, it could eventually reach the Oradell Reservoir, a drinking water source. He suggested that a letter of support from Veolia North America, which manages the Oradell Reservoir, might help expedite the NJDEP’s approval of the township’s emergency permit.
After DiCarlo informed councilors that Boswell Engineering was close to finishing the state permit application to re-stabilize the stream banks near the two severely eroded sanitary manholes, DeSena asked if the township’s engineer could meet with NJDEP officials to prepare for the project before “an environmental disaster” occurs.
DiCarlo said the NJDEP review was anticipated to take four to five months to complete. DeSena suggested that the engineering professionals “describe the magnitude of the emergency” to NJDEP officials before winter.
DiCarlo assured him that officials would “surely exhaust every option we have to see if we can get this done.”
He noted that the DPW conducts weekly onsite checks of the manholes to monitor conditions in the brook and around the concrete structures, which are exposed to brook waters during periods of peak storm runoff.
The Boswell Engineering study of Musquapsink Brook identified 45 downed trees and 33 sediment shoals as obstructions, 14 areas where stream banks require stabilization, and five potential “critical sanitary issues” where the stream runs near a sanitary sewer line.
The study offers recommendations to help improve stream flow and minimize local flooding.
The township was the first of four towns to undertake a drone study of waterways to help improve stream flow and reduce flooding. Boswell has recently completed drone studies of waterways in Westwood, River Vale, and Hillsdale, which are expected to be released soon and to help generate state/federal grants for regional flood mitigation.