July 15, 2024 Update
Bordentown City – Public Property, Streets, and Water Joe Myers: jmyers@cityofbordentown.com and/or 609-556-7837
Highlights: (a) Outstanding Water Sampling Results in this current round of sampling; (b) Water Plant Emergency Upgrades; (c) PSEG underground gas main construction has started (PSEG Hotline for questions is 833-661-6400); (d) Sidewalk repairs (just like snow removal) are the responsibility of the private property owner (except for the shade tree commission and water department/repairs), and (e) The water department is working on the final portion of the new meter replacements and lead service replacements. If anyone wants more information about our asset management plan, meters, or priority projects, please call our water department at 609-298-0604 or look online at the city website.
1. Roadways
a. Stormwater Mapping: City is utilizing an old $15K grant to comply with the NJDEP requirement to map the stormwater system. Survey work is underway.
b. Pine & Vernon: Drainage work completed.
c. Maintenance bond phase: Second, West, Oliver, Union, and Brooks.
d. PSEG Gas Upgrades: gas construction is underway.
e. NJDOT Application (1 of 4): The next priority will be Carpenter, Leyden, Myrtle, Borden, and Hopkinson project. We are coordinating this mobilization after the PSEG gas.
f. NJDOT Application (2 of 4): The City was awarded a grant for the repaving segments of Burlington and Prince Streets in 2024. Field surveying has started.
g. NJDOT (3 of 4): The City applied and was awarded design funds to NJDOT for streetscape improvement along Park Street. The city is scheduling a coordination meeting with the county and seeking additional grant funds.
h. NJDOT (4 of 4): The City was awarded $217,000 for repaving funds for Elizabeth Street (community outreach and design will be this summer and construction in 2025). City also applied for additional funds last month.
2. Projects
a. Parks/Recreational Facilities:
i. Oliver Street Park: Phase one construction is underway (nearly completion).
ii. Second Street Park: Presenting a construction resolution tonight for new playground equipment (pending approval, installation will be this fall).
iii. West/Borden City Lot: Reviewing budget, next step is bidding/advertisement.
iv. Ann Street: Presenting a resolution tonight to advance the remediation.
v. Parks advisory committee meeting this month.
3. Water Department:
a. Water sampling is complete – no exceedances.
b. Water Plant Upgrades: Presenting a resolution tonight.
c. Water advisory committee meeting this month.
d. New Water Meters (I-Bank funding to help support the project): Slightly over 5,373 meters have been replaced. We will have a big focus now with non-responsive owners.
Bordentown Water Plant – Emergency Incident on Saturday, May 25, 2024
1. At approximately 1 am (early morning on Saturday, May 25th), the on-call water employee responded to the alarm notification at the water plant.
1. Upon arrival, it was discovered that the water main feed line from the wells burst inside our filter room on the main floor of the water plant. This 12-inch line feeds water into the plant
2. Technically, the pipe itself did not burst, but the flange holding the joint together failed
3. This flooded the main floor, flowed downstairs, and filled the basement
a. Upon arrival, the on-call employee notified the water supervisor and called for backup
b. Water employees shut down the wells to stop the water coming into the plant, and set up pumps to start pumping out the flooded basement.
4. The basement at the plant houses our three (3) high-service pumps
5. These pumps are what feed finished water to the system.
6. All three pumps and their adjacent control cabinets were underwater. They were tested and not working. Simultaneously, the water team discovered that our main electrical breaker for the site was not functioning properly. The plant was running on standby emergency power, not PSEG line power.
7. While the basement was being pumped out, the team began inspecting the damaged piece of pipe. The damaged piece was removed and the team made the necessary repairs
8. A call was made to our emergency electrician to test and inspect the motors and associated equipment, which were not working. A second call was made to the department’s emergency maintenance contractor to work on the motors
a. The motor repair was critical because at that moment, the water system was being serviced by the water in the two water tanks (Carslake and Crosswicks)
b. We needed the motors to be replaced so that the system could start feeding more water into the system (from the plant, in addition to the water from the two tanks)
9. The emergency contractor sent a crew to remove all three motors. They found a replacement motor in Harrisburg, PA which was ordered and shipped.
10. New motor arrived at the water plant around 9 pm Saturday May 25th and it was installed around 11pm.
11. The plant was back online shortly after but it took a few days for the plant to refill the two tanks and re-establish normal water pressure.
12. On Sunday morning, a second (smaller) leak was discovered further down on the same section of pipe. The emergency contractor returned to make repairs to the other leak and to restrain the joints.
13. Later in the holiday weekend, an electrician arrived to restore power and get the plant back on PSEG line power.
Next steps:
1. The water department will be re-evaluating its priorities and focusing on plant upgrades
2. The team is also exploring a second plant site and/or an interconnection system.