Message from Mayor John L. Madden: The Aftermath of the Perfect Storm
As a follow up to my report last week, “The Crossroads of the Perfect Storm,” I wanted to provide an update on the situation at Creighton Lake.
The Situation
As you are aware by now, a NJ American Water Company water main broke, affecting 5 towns and about 150,000 residents. To make matters worse here, the water backfilled a sewer main, flushing out an overwhelming surcharge of untreated raw sewage, both domestic and industrial, from the manhole onto Cedar Avenue also discharging next to a Borough Chemical facility. This chemical facility was legally discharging a surfactant which is their process effluent, into that same sanitary main. This sewage overload then entered the storm water basins which flowed into the Ambrose Brook which directly feeds into the Creighton Lake. The distance between all the service lines are within very close proximity to one another- probably within 500 feet.
Almost immediately, thousands of fish started dying including tadpoles, crayfish, minnows, catfish, sunnies, bass, carp and eel. To date, our Department of Public Works has removed more than 11,000 dead fish from the Lake.
The Responsibility
For the record I want to state this clearly: we have full assurances made by the President of N.J. American Water that they are taking full responsibility for the cleanup of our Lake and restoring the water quality. The President has stated this to me personally in front of high-ranking staff of the NJ Department of Environmental Protection, Middlesex County Haz Mat and our Environmental Joint Insurance Fund (EJIF). Failure of N.J. American Water to take care of the expenses incurred by the Borough as a result of the service main rupture will result in our Joint Insurance Fund subrogating on our behalf against N.J. American Water’s insurance company for damages. The Borough carries substantial insurance, including environmental insurance. We also have an environmental attorney, just in case – however, our environmental insurance fund will take the lead on this on the Borough’s behalf. Any related legal fees are covered by the EJIF.
The Plan
The Borough was given assurances that N.J. American Water would follow the requirements of the NJ DEP to ensure the water quality entering into the Lake. The priority for all parties is to make sure what was spilled upstream in Piscataway and into the Ambrose Brook is scrubbed and cleaned so it doesn’t end up in the Lake as well. The goal of this first phase (as well as all subsequent remediation activities) of the cleanup is to ensure that the water quality will meet NJ State Statutory Surface Water Quality Standards (N.J.A.C. 7: 9B). The important take away here is that this Statute identifies water quality based effluent limitations for discharging into waters in New Jersey thereby protecting our waterways.
The Next Steps
To repeat what I wrote last week: the NJ DEP requested patience. They believe that, after a couple of heavy rainstorms, the existing water column will clear out through dilution and the water quality is anticipated to be restored in the Lake. Until that time, the aerators and bubbler are remaining off as they are simply churning around soapy surfactants in the water. Once we have some good rain, we will turn on the aerators and see if we still get foam coming up. If not, then the water is clear; if there is foam, the NJ DEP will address, along with N.J. American Water, the possibility of draining the Lake to clean off anything that may have sunk to the bottom, causing a continuing problem. It is a “wait and see” matter according to the NJ DEP. The significant discharge from the Ambrose Brook caused much sediment and silt to also carry into the Lake, unfortunately. This is called “sediment load.”
The Costs
The Borough is keeping track of all costs incurred and will make sure that our taxpayers do not bear those costs. Furthermore, our Environmental Insurance representatives and the County Board of Health are monitoring the Lake and the County is testing the water on the Borough’s behalf at no charge to the Borough. All water quality water tests will be reviewed in the event of any further action necessary.
We continue to ask residents to not go near the Lake or allow your pets to until further notice. Please know that the restoration to Creighton Lake is going to take time and that many organizations are working diligently on our behalf.
Regards,
Mayor John L. Madden