Project

NJ I-Bank Project of the Week: Atlantic County Utilities Authority receives $9,853,964 in Water Bank loans saving ratepayers approximately $5,104,000.

The Atlantic County Utilities Authority (“ACUA”) recently completed a sewer force main replacement project that is being financed with approximately $10 million in loans from the NJ Water Bank, a low-rate funding program jointly administered by the DEP and the NJ I-Bank. Since the project’s service area meets the Water Bank’s affordability criteria, ACUA received $2 million in principal forgiveness funds for the project. Including interest cost savings, total savings for this project is estimated to be $5,104,418 over the 20-year term of the loan or 52% of the total project cost. In addition, this project created an estimated 118 direct, one-year construction jobs.

The original Ventnor-Margate (“VMFM”) force main was installed approximately 40 years ago. It had deteriorated significantly and needed replacement. The project entailed the construction of a new force main to replace a three-quarter mile section of the failing force main to prevent sewage discharges. The 30-inch VMFM connects to the Pleasantville force main north of the New Jersey Transit rail line and merges into a 42-inch force main. Approximately 4,275 feet of new 30-inch diameter high-density polyethylene pipe was installed alongside a welded VMFM steel pipe. Open-cut and horizontal direction drill methods were used for the installation.

According to Marty Small Sr., Mayor of Atlantic City, one of the ACUA’s major customers, “Not only does this address our environmental needs, but by financing this project through the NJ Water Bank, it saves the taxpayers of the great city of Atlantic City money, which I’m always looking to do. Annual maintenance costs should go down due to the reduced probability of costly emergency repairs, and more jobs will be created, which is an ideal scenario for Atlantic City and our neighboring municipalities.”

This project was designed by GHD Inc. GHD also supplied permitting services. The project was constructed by C. Abbonizio Contractors while ACUA served as the construction manager and inspector during the installation phase.

Pictures courtesy of ACUA

Published December 6, 2023