Iselin-based Middlesex Water Co., a provider of water and wastewater related services, broke ground Thursday on an underground water transmission main from Edison to Metuchen, it said.
The Company announced the project at a ceremony held at its Carl J. Olsen Water Treatment Plant in Edison.
The event included remarks from Middlesex Water President Dennis Doll; MWC Manager of Engineering Brian Carr; Joseph L. Fiordaliso, president, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities; Ronald G. Rios, director, Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders; and Joseph Coyle, president Edison Chamber of Commerce.
“I commend Middlesex Water for its commitment and hard work towards the BPU’s shared goals of resiliency and sustainability for our natural resources and the commitment to a better tomorrow,” Fiordaliso said at the ceremony.
“These investments lead to increased economic growth and productivity for our County and its businesses, increased land values and most importantly improved public and environmental health. In short, they ensure a higher quality of life for all of Middlesex County. I thank and congratulate Middlesex Water Company, its administration and staff on this project and thank them for being a steadfast partner in helping us keep Middlesex County safe and healthy,” Rios said.
The $52 million, 4.5 mile, 42-inch diameter project, known as the Western Transmission Main, is being installed to provide backup water supply, Middlesex Water Co. said.
It will supplement the company’s existing main, which services a population of approximately 300,00 in eastern Middlesex County. The project will also help ease risks associated with aging infrastructure.
“We’re commencing construction of this supplementary transmission main along the western portion of our New Jersey service territory to harden our infrastructure and ensure an adequate back-up water supply to meet daily basic needs,” said Dennis Doll, chairman, CEO and president of Middlesex Water. “The Western Transmission Main is one of several projects under our $300 million investment initiative known as ‘Water For Tomorrow’ designed to strengthen water distribution infrastructure and ensure greater reliability, safety and service quality for current and future generations of water users.”
Middlesex Water Co. is working with two contractors, J. Fletcher Creamer and PACT One LLC.