Franklin Lakes Sanitary Sewer Project Groundbreaking

The Northwest Bergen County Utilities Authority marked the start of the Franklin Lakes Business District Sanitary Sewer Project on May 14 with a groundbreaking ceremony in Franklin Lakes.  Expected to take 15 to 18 months to complete, the project is viewed as historic for its safeguard of groundwater quality and elimination of environmental harm from the potential failure of aging septic systems.  Created as one of the region's premier lakeside residential communities enhanced by an attractive array of recreational amenities, Franklin Lakes until now has relied on individual septic systems and small package plants for sewage treatment.

A major focus for this project is the elimination of six treatment plants and septic systems serving business, retail and school facilities, as well as some residential areas.  Residences along the new sewer line route, which will serve Franklin and Susquehanna Avenues, will also have access, but officials have made it clear there will be no mandatory 'tie-ins' unless required by law for failing systems.

Upon Completion, the system will initially carry 90,000 gallons of wastewater per day to NBCUA's Waldwick plant for processing.  Should Franklin Lakes expand that volume in the future, the NBCUA plant will still be well within its design limit.

NBCUA was able to arrange construction loans through New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust (NJEIT) well below market rates at 1%.  The Authority was also successful in winning a $1.025 million loan forgiveness grant, almost 20 percent of the loan amount.

The event was reported by the Wyckoff-Franklin Lakes Patch (http://wyckoff.patch.com/articles/nbua-groudbreaking-1369278f).  

Franklin Lakes Business District Sanitary Sewer Project Groundbreaking Ceremony on May 14 in Franklin Lakes.  Pictured from left to right are Authority Superintendent Robert Genetelli, Authority Vice Chairman Michael Kasparian, Authority Chairman William F. Dator, Commissioner Elizabeth Salazer, Commissioner Brian Chewcaskie, Bergen County Executive Kathleen A. Donovan, Franklin Lakes Mayor Frank Bivona and Authority Executive Director Howard Hurwitz.

Pictured are Authority Commissioners Salazer, Dator, Kasparian and Chewcaskie with Franklin Lakes Mayor Frank Bivona.