This letter responds to the January 19 posting on nj.com about West Windsor’s Wallace Road emergency sewer repair.
As an attorney and adjunct professor within both the Rutgers and Seton Hall Law Schools, I confess to limited knowledge of civil engineering and sewer systems. However, with a little research, I was able to discover some interesting particulars about this sewer, initially installed in 1970.
As recently as 2005 or 2006, there was a significant sewer failure on Wallace Roadd that was repaired under “emergency criteria.” As part of the repair, the Department of Public Works authorized the posting of an on-site 24-hour-a-day guard at great cost to taxpayers. Further, our Public Works has owned and operated sewer camera equipment for an extended time. Notwithstanding the 2006 repairs and proactive measures the same sewer line failed, and repairs were undertaken pursuant to a no-bid “emergency contract.”
Regular inspections of our aged sewer systems should have revealed trouble spots. It is unclear why the 2006 repairs, regular maintenance, and inspection did not identify the sewer problem before it became an emergency. The administration needs to determine why those measures did not work and institute corrective action. Had the failing sewer pipes been relined earlier, the repairs would likely have been much less costly and we would not be hostage to incurring the current “emergency” costs. Repair costs are estimated to be well in excess of $350,000. This is in addition to the emergency monies being paid to the contractor who is patching the sewer prior to the relining and the $6,000 per week to pump the Wallace Road sewage.
Waiting until there is another sewer failure inconveniences homes and businesses and results in a piecemeal and costly approach to sewer maintenance.
Christine V. Bator, Esq.
6 Wheatston Court, Princeton Junction
