Gov. Phil Murphy and other officials in New Jersey have initiated a $20 million project to prevent sewage leakage and improve storm preparedness at the Jersey Shore. The state will use federal grant funding to replace a decaying 3,000-foot sewer pipe and relocate a damaged pump station at the Two Rivers Water Reclamation Authority in Monmouth Beach. Murphy underscored the urgent need for action, as the corroded underwater sewer pipe, which processes 11 mgd, is at risk of rupture, posing a severe environmental hazard.
The pipeline isn't the only vulnerability of the Two Rivers plant. Superstorm Sandy severely damaged the plant's main pumping station, cracking its two-foot-thick concrete walls. The plant now needs a new pump installed at an elevated, flood-resistant site. Michael Gianforte, executive director of the Two Rivers Water Reclamation Authority, warned in NJSpotlight News that if the pipeline failed, it would take about three months to establish a bypass, potentially allowing 800 million gallons of sewage to spill into the river.
White House Announces Investment in Jackson, Mississippi’s Water System
President Joe Biden has announced that over $100 million has been allocated to repair the troubled water system in Jackson, Mississippi, marking the first installment of more than half a billion dollars earmarked by Congress. The residents of Jackson have long endured the effects of deteriorating water infrastructure, which reached crisis level last summer when a major flood exacerbated existing issues, leaving thousands without running water for an extended period. This initial funding is part of the sweeping 2022 omnibus spending bill, which provides a total of $600 million for Jackson's water system overhaul.
“All Americans deserve access to clean, safe drinking water,” said Biden in a statement. “That’s why I directed my Administration to make sure the people of Jackson have the resources they need and deserve. In December, I was proud to sign bipartisan legislation to help stabilize Jackson’s drinking water infrastructure and protect against future crises. Today, as a result of that legislation, I am announcing an initial $115 million investment towards repairing the city’s water infrastructure challenges and delivering clean water for all.”
Senator Visits IBWC WWTP to Address Transboundary Water Pollution
U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla recently paid a visit to the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission Wastewater Treatment Plant, spotlighting federal initiatives to combat transboundary water pollution in the San Diego and Tijuana region. Padilla has secured an appropriations package to expedite the delivery of $300 million to the IBWC for water infrastructure projects.
The last significant official visit to the plant took place in 1997, according to CBS8 News, with Vice President Al Gore attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the beginning of operations. Padilla described the current conditions at the plant as "unacceptable," underscoring the urgency of infrastructure improvements.
