February 11, 2009 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 3 Waldwick The Borough of Waldwick is applying for funds from President Barack Obama’s proposed economic stimulus package to tackle two major capital projects. One would replace the aging water tanks on Wyckoff Avenue in Wyckoff; the other would replace or repair sewer lines to attack inflow and infiltration (I&I) problems. The combined projects are estimated to run $1,180,000. Borough Administrator Gary Kratz told the council last week that it makes sense to proceed with the projects now so that they qualify for the federal funds. “You have a worthy project, and it makes sense to deal with it in a planned way rather than in an emergency situation, with a failed tank and water flowing,” Kratz said of the water tank replacement. The administrator explained that one of the steel tanks dates to World War II and the other to 1953, and that the metal is fast reaching its useful life. “When we were last inside the tanks in 1994-95 to do a paint job, we sandblasted the interior, and it looked like a planetarium,” so many were the holes that had to be repaired, Kratz told the council. He explained that the state Department of Environmental Protection ordered an ultrasound of one of the tanks following the last inspection. He said that, at most, the tanks could take one more paint job. Borough Engineer Mike DeSena of Stantec, said that the two existing steel tanks would be replaced with one 680-gallon concrete tank, similar to the one erected in 1999. He said siting it at the rear of the property should please the neighbors, since the new tank would be almost Council seeks stimulus funds for two projects totally hidden from the street and more aesthetically pleasing. DeSena explained that the pre-manufactured structure gets built on site, taking about nine months to complete. The height would be about the same as the tanks already there, so there should be no problem getting planning board approval from Wyckoff, he said. The old tanks would be dismantled once the new tank is operational. The sewer pipe project would allow the municipality to continue its current practice of scoping the pipes with video cameras and making upgrades or repairs in hopes of reducing potential I&I and the resulting sewer charges. The borough’s sewer bill from the Northwest Bergen Utilities Authority (NWBUA) is up $220,000 for 2009. Sewer charges make up 15 percent of the town’s total budget, according to Kratz. “This project is shovel ready,” Kratz said in expressing optimism the grant would be forthcoming. The council has been allocating $100,000 a year for sewer line repairs. Thus far, four sections of town have been scoped and two have undergone repairs, according to DeSena. He said the video taping had uncovered crashed pipes, broken joints and trees growing on broken lines. Council members questioned whether the work already done has paid off. “As the infrastructure gets older, you have more problems. If we hadn’t done anything, we would now be worse off,” said Kratz. “If we find leaks, it will have been worth it, because the infiltration adds up. “Even if we don’t isolate the I&I, there is an ancillary benefit. If there are roots that can cause a potential blockage, the TV cameras can see areas of root growth,” he added. DeSena said that another option for discovering conditions contributing to the increase in flow would be to use smoke bomb testing. Under this process, once the smoke bomb is activated, smoke comes out onto the grass where laterals are broken, or backs up into a building with an illegal sump pump connected to the storm drains. He said no municipality in the area uses this method, although it is safe. Kratz said that in areas with 50x100 ft. lots and a high water table, the residents are pumping their basements into the sewers. “Where are they going to go,” he said. “The position of previous councils has been to make sure our ship is tight before going after residents using smoke bombs.” Councilwoman Anita Bozzo suggested these property owners could be assessed a surcharge. The borough has teamed up with Allendale in questioning the NWBUA’s charges. “A new engineering firm did the calculations,” Kratz told the council. “We have asked for back up information to ascertain the methodology used was correct.” ��� ���� ������� ���� ���� �������� ���� ���� ��� ��� ����� ������� ������� ��� ������� ���� ����� �� ���� �������� ������ �� ����� ������� ���� ���� � ���� � �� ����� �� ���������� �� ������ ������ ������������