Officials Break Ground On Pump Station

Mayor Dawn Zimmer and other Hudson County officials broke ground on the sewage pump on Observer Highway Monday morning, officially celebrating the start of the much awaited flood-relief. 

"We've had a history in the South West part of Hoboken with flooding," said Congressman Albio Sires. "This is going to make the city a much better place to live."

The construction of this pump will relieve about 80 percent of Hoboken's flood problems, said North Hudson Sewage Authority Chairman Richard Wolff. Without accurate data, though, it's hard to predict the exact impact the pump will have. Because the sewage pipes under Hoboken are interconnected, Wolff said, the pump may have impact on other areas—and not just the South West part of Hoboken—as well. 

But, to fully solve the flooding issue in town, this one pump is not enough. Zimmer said she wants to "keep pushing," to completely solve the flooding issue in town, because it's an inconvenience and a danger to Hoboken residents. 

The new pumping station will be able to pump at least 100 million gallons of water during a severe rain storm, Wolff said. The $17.6 million project is being financed by the NHSA. The Authority received $5 million from the federal government to help pay for the pump. 

The project is scheduled to be completely finished by September 2011, Wolff said, but the pump may be working before that time. 

"We've got a target to have the pump operational by November or December this year," Wolff said. The contractors from the company in charge of the project, the Maplewood based contracting firm Anselmia & DeCicco, said it may take longer. 

Frank Raia, longterm Sewage Authority Commissioner and former Hoboken mayoral candidate, said he is happy to see the project start. 

"We've been fighting for a pumpstation for 20 years," he said.