| DEP ALLOWS EMERGENCY WATER
HOOKUPS IN TOMS RIVER AREA
United Water Fined for Exceeding Allocation
and Failure to Obtain Required Permits
(05/125) TRENTON -- To provide residents and businesses
moving into the Toms River area with a secure source of drinking
water, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner
Bradley M. Campbell today allowed limited emergency water hookups
to the United Water Toms River system. DEP also fined United Water
of Toms River $104,000 for exceeding its state water allocation
permit from 1999 through 2004 and constructing water main extensions
without a required state permit.
In July 1999 and July 2002, United Water Toms River violated
its monthly water allocation limit, which allows the use of 554
million gallons per month. In 2001, 2002 and 2004, United Water
Toms River violated its annual allocation limit of 4,282 million
gallons per year. In addition, United Water constructed water
main extensions from 1997 through 2005 without the required state
permits.
"Toms River residents and businesses who were inappropriately
promised water in the past and who proceeded in good faith now
have a solution," said Commissioner Campbell. "With
United Water's commitment to short-term actions outlined in the
order, we will allow connections to provide drinking water for
new service to eliminate any hardships."
DEP signed an administrative consent order with United Water
Toms River today, which sets the monetary fine and agreements
on future service.
To address the short-term problem, United Water secured additional
water supply from Manchester Township Water Utility in September
2005 to purchase a maximum of 1.25 million gallons per day. The
water company also recently secured an additional .5 million gallons
per day until the end of 2005 from New Jersey American Water Company.
Due to these actions, DEP will allow United Water Toms River to
provide water service to any customer who was issued a "willingess
to serve" letter prior to September 1, 2005 and any adjacent
properties, also know as in-fill, as identified by the company
as of October 20, 2005. This condition allows United Water Toms
River to supply a total of 300 service connections where individuals
have a financial commitment and are facing a hardship.
DEP ordered United Water Toms River to submit a complete and
comprehensive permit application for water main extensions, water
main replacements and connections that will be served by allowing
limited emergency hookups to existing mains. To promote conservation,
DEP also ordered United Water Toms River to petition all municipalities
within its service area to adopt a resolution implementing water
use restrictions.
Under the DEP order, United Water Toms River must still obtain
required permits before any new extension or connections are made
to development projects that have not been identified as in urgent
need of connection. Furthermore, such service connections will
be not allowed by DEP until United Water Toms River has secured
adequate water allocation capacity.
DEP is reviewing a request from United Water Toms River to increase
its monthly and annual water allocation limits. This application
was deemed administratively complete earlier this month and is
under technical review.
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