Ocean County Leader

Ocean County is slated to receive $1,500,000 in federal funding championed by Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester) to rehabilitate key mechanical, electrical, and structural systems at the Central Water Pollution Control Facilities (CWPCF) plant in Berkeley Township. The funds were secured through Smith's congressional earmarks and signed into law as part of a negotiated budget.

Commissioned in 1978, the CWPCF is a secondary waste treatment facility with a capacity of 32 million gallons per day. One of its primary digesters—a concrete sludge digestion tank with a liquid capacity of 1.2 million gallons—is in need of major repairs due to corrosive elements associated with wastewater treatment.

"This critical federal funding will allow Ocean County to demolish, replace and rehabilitate the digester tank cover and other mechanical, structural, and electrical systems—to ensure continued efficiencies and effective treatment of wastewater,” said Smith. He also highlighted that the project will provide additional biogas storage volume for decreased operational expenses through onsite electricity production.

Smith expressed gratitude towards the Ocean County Commissioners and the Ocean County Utilities Authority leadership for their support in making the project eligible for funding. He emphasized the project's benefits, stating, “This project will not only improve water quality of effluent that ultimately flows into the Atlantic Ocean and reduce air emissions, but also lower plant operational expenses by increasing onsite generation of electricity—which will help stabilize rates for residents.”