$28M In Upgrades At Colts Neck Reservoir Near Completion

COLTS NECK, NJ — With upgrades of nearly $28 million, an improved Swimming River water treatment plant was unveiled to community members yesterday by New Jersey American Water.

The investment includes many system enhancements and critical infrastructure improvements, the company said in a news release.

“The Swimming River facility provides a critical service and benefit to the residents of Monmouth and Ocean counties, and we are thrilled to unveil the investment and work into this facility,” said Mark McDonough, president of New Jersey American Water.

“Proactively upgrading our infrastructure allows us to continue the delivery of safe, reliable water service to our customers. This project represents a comprehensive investment and commitment to enhancing resiliency," he said in a news release about the event.

Work on the upgrades began in 2019 and is expected to be completed by the end of the year, the company said. The company said the upgrades are being recovered in "current rates, which reflect some low-cost financing."

Upgrades to the facility include:

• Construction of a new 1 million gallon underground clear well storage tank.
• Construction of a new high service pump station, housing three new distributive pumps, instrumentation and control, and electrical systems.
• Replacement of power service equipment, transformers and switchgear.
• Installation of a new generator to provide backup power for the treatment facility in the event of a power outage.

In addition to infrastructure improvements, New Jersey American Water also retired the existing 36-inch gravity main which had reached the end of its useful life after more than 100 years. The new clear well and high service pump station, which were placed into service at the end of 2021, replace the aging gravity main.

The plant provides capacity to treat and deliver 36 million gallons of water per day to more than 335,000 people as part of New Jersey American Water’s Coastal North water system in the Monmouth and Ocean county areas, the company said.

New Jersey American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing water and/or wastewater services to approximately 2.8 million people. For more information, visit www.newjerseyamwater.com.