Obszarny updated Montclair Environmental Commission members on Montclair’s water supply during their monthly meeting last Wednesday, Sept. 10, revealing that the Grove Street pumping station "is beyond its usable life."

First built in 1932, the station pumps out 16 million gallons of water per day.

Electrical wires are being replaced, as well as four pumps and four motors in the system that provides water to Montclair’s population of some 37,000 residents, as well as about 5,000 people who live in Glen Ridge.

The project may cost upwards of $1.8 million, said Obszarny, who noted the state Dept. of Environmental Protection’s Infrastructure Trust Loan of New Jersey is financing the project. The state funding will be paid back through township monies, he said.

The project will go out to bid on Thursday, Sept. 25.

During the meeting, commission member James Sherman asked Obszarny, "What kind of savings can we expect?"

Obszarny said savings depend on several factors, including whether or not a drought occurs. "There is going to be savings, but that’s not only why we’re doing it. We’re doing it because it’s old," he said.

There are two pumping stations in Montclair, along with three wells and two storage tanks.

Obszarny also seeks to expand storage tank space. One tank holds 1.5 million gallons of water and the second holds 2.5 million.

"You’d want to have to have a one-day supply of water. That would be the optimal system to have," Obszarny said. "The more storage you have, the more water you can pump at night when electricity is cheaper, and shut down the electric pumps when electricity is at a premium during the day."

The 2.5-million-gallon storage steel riveted tank will likely be replaced with one that can hold 3 million gallons of water. The 1.5 concrete tank needs upgrades and additional storage, he said.

Replacing and upgrading the tanks may cost about $4 million, depending on the cost of steel, Obszarny said.

Obszarny also noted that this past Monday work began to replace about 400 sanitary sewer covers. The project will take place during the next two years, he said. Each cover costs about $1,250 to replace.

"They are sinking all over town and they are causing problems with people walking and biking and driving," Obszarny said.

Several covers are pierced with holes and cracked, allowing water to infiltrate. "There is a big cost to treating water that doesn’t need to be treated."

Unwanted water can also lead to sewer back-ups, he said.

Work began earlier this week on Seymour Street.

About four covers are being changed per weekday, Obszarny said.

Contact Tanya Drobness at drobness@montclairtimes.com.