Home » ELSA Gets Bond Approval for Wastewater Treatment Facility

ELSA Gets Bond Approval for Wastewater Treatment Facility

by Angela Jacobs

The Ewing and Lawrence Township Councils have given consent to the Ewing-Lawrence Sewage Authority (ELSA) to issue bonds funding the remaining cost of a massive upgrade project at its wastewater treatment facility. Bonds, through the NJ Environmental Infrastructure Trust (NJEIT) Financing Program, will supply the remaining $4.6M needed to fund a mandated 5% contingency cost, and additional construction, engineering, and administrative costs due to additional improvements requested.

The initial cost of the project, which began in 2013, was $22.7M project, and was funded through two separate low interest (75% at 0% and 25% at market rate) loans by the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Financing Program and a $950K grant.

Upgrading the facility consists of: (1) construction of an ultraviolet (UV) disinfection facility that will enable compliance with a new dichlorobromomethane (DCBM) effluent limit; (2) replacement of equipment and systems at the end of their useful life; (3) correcting hydraulic bottlenecks during severe wet weather conditions that can cause overflow of primary clarifiers; and (4) construction of new facilities that will screen influent wastewater and improve grit removal.

ELSA is located on Whitehead Road, in Lawrence Township, between the Assunpink Creek and the Delaware and Raritan Canal. It serves Ewing and Lawrence Townships and processes 16 million-gallons-per-day. It was built in 1950 and expanded in 1962. It’s last major upgrade and expansion project occurred in 1981. The entire project addresses the aged infrastructure and ensures permit compliance. Construction is expected to be finished by April 2017.

About Us

MercerMe is the only hyperlocal, independent, online news outlet serving Hopewell Valley in Mercer County, New Jersey.

Contact us: [email protected]

Search Our Archives