May 29, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 7 Ho-Ho-Kus Water system upgraded; Well #1 reopened by Jennifer Crusco Ho-Ho-Kus officials recently reported that the borough’s entire water system has been updated, Well #1 has been reopened with the permission of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and the fine for over-pumping in 2011 has been reduced. Borough Administrator Don Cirulli said last week that the system-wide upgrade included repairs and improvements that left the system in “top condition.” He added, however, that the borough is still awaiting word from the DEP regarding the borough’s request for an increase in its water allocation. In 2012, Eileen Feldman, a public engineer and senior principal of Hazen & Sawyer of New York, and Katie Hoek, principal scientist at that firm, formally asked the NJDEP to consider an increase in the borough’s water allocation, which currently allows the local water utility to pump one million gallons per day. Water use has become an increasingly salient issue in Ho-Ho-Kus. In recent years, the borough has twice been fined for exceeding its water allotment. The most recent fine, which covered the over-pumping in 2011, was $76,250 and has since been reduced to $45,750 following negotiations between the borough and the DEP. Ruthanne Frank, executive assistant to the borough administrator, pointed out that no fines were incurred in 2012, when strin- Graph showing the number of gallons pumped during 2012, when more rigid water restrictions were implemented. A total of 209,771,800 gallons were pumped; no fine was incurred. gent water restrictions were imposed. She also reported that Well #1 was reopened this month, after having been shut down late in 2010. The DEP called for the shutdown of Well #1 after the Ho-HoKus Department of Public Works installed a new pump that pumped more water than its predecessor. The borough was then required to apply for a permit to reopen that well. In a May 7 letter to the Ho-Ho-Kus Water Department, Xenia Feliz of the DEP Bureau of Water System Engineering wrote, “The Bureau of Water System Engineering (Bureau) has received a request from Katie Hoek, P.E. Hazen and Sawyer, on May 6, 2013 for a formal letter to operate Well No. 1. The Bureau has reviewed your request and has determined that Well 1 can be operated at the permitted capacity of 185 gpm only. The Borough of Ho-HoKus shall not operate the well at a higher pumping rate until such time that the Water Allocation Permit No. 5064 has been modified an approved by the Bureau of Water Allocation and Well Permitting.” Last week, Cirulli said Eric Fooder, the borough’s temporary licensed water operator, had advised the borough to adjust the pump for Well #1 to the proper level. Fooder is a licensed water operator who was hired to assist Ho-Ho-Kus on a temporary basis in October 2012. At that time, borough officials explained that Fooder had stepped in for James Montag, the former superintendent of the Ho-Ho-Kus Department of Water & Sewers, who was on a medical leave. Montag was terminated in December 2012 and has since filed suit. DPW Superintendent of Buildings, Roads, and Grounds Jeff Pattman has been running the water department on a daily basis. Last week, Pattman explained that having Well #1 back in operation will aid the water system, as the additional functioning well will allow the water tanks to fill faster. He pointed out that the amount of water being used determines the number of wells that are running. The system currently has five wells. At one time, there were six wells, but Well #3 has been permanently closed. Frank added that the pumps are never working all at the same time. The recent upgrades to the system included new piping and adjustments that allow the water to remain in contact with the chlorine for longer periods of time in order to comply with updated regulations. Frank also pointed out that, last year, New Tech performed acoustic leak testing of the borough’s water system. She said several leaks were found and repaired, and there are no known leaks at this time. In a 2012 report to the council and members of the public, Hoek said New Tech had carried out 60 percent of the leak detection work, and the balance had been carried out by the DPW. At that meeting, Councilman Steve Shell noted that a leak caused by a tiny pinhole could result in the loss of 1.314 million gallons of water per year.