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Alternative to sewer line repair explored
(by Megan Burrow - April 29, 2008)
The borough is pursuing an alternative solution to the repair needed for the exposed sewer pipe running along the Pascack Brook. The plan would involve rerouting the damaged 18-inch sewer line the borough was planning on repairing and tying it into a 42-inch Bergen County Utilities Authority (BCUA) pipe which runs parallel to the line.
Borough Engineer Steven Boswell reported at the April 22 council meeting that he has been in contact with the executive director of the BCUA. According to Boswell, the director was receptive to the idea and said the 42-inch line is below capacity.
Next week a field crew will review the sewer lines and directions of flow and Boswell Engineering will complete a survey. Mayor John Birkner praised the idea, saying, “The potential is there for tremendous savings and eliminating what could be potentially an environmental disaster.”
Boswell said that the original project the borough discussed would have cost approximately $1.2 million because of the need to stabilize the 20-foot wall separating the brook from homes running along side it. The proposed alternative would cost about $300,000.
“The problem is if you touch this pipe you’ve got walls along the brook that are going to fail,” Boswell said. “Anytime you can take a project and cut the cost to a quarter it’s a good thing.”
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