"|8 Herald - Lantern - Dispatch 18 June '86

'You're Talking Big Money,' Says Stump Study Finds Ocean Outfall Best

By E. J. DUFFY ' I Consultants for the county and Lower Township MUAs are expected to finish a ( study this week on the best way to ( discharge sewage from two Delaware Bay 1 treatment plants. The County MUA's Sunset Beach plant ' treats sanitary sewage from Cape May, 1 West Cape May and Cape May Point while * the township MUA's Villas facility handles effluent from that community and North Cape May. ( Both MUAs have been required to connect their plants in Lower to the county 1 MUA outfall in Wildwood Crest by July 1988. Projecting that as a $20-million to $30-million job, the MUAs this time last 1 year jointly hired Metcalf & Eddy Inc. of Somerville to complete a four-month $48,599 study of less expensive alternatives. The consultants recommended the ocean outfall as the cheapest of five options, however, in their February report summarized for the county Planning Board "YOU KNOW SOMETHING. I wish they hadn't done that," county MUA chief engineer Charles M. Norkis said of the planners. Metcalf & Eddy "had some wrong numbers in" the report which he called "a draft." "I think discharge into the bay is going to be cheaper," Norkis predicted, alluding to final data in a revised report from the consultants. In the original version. Metcalf & Eddy listed $16 million as the capital cost for connecting the bayfront treatment plants, through miles of sewer mains, to the county MUA's Wildwoods-Lower plant on Rio Grande Boulevard (Route 47). Middle Township, and from there to the ocean outfall. Paying for that on a yearly basis would cost $1,682,000 with another $351,000 for operations and maintenance for a total annual bill of $2,033,000, according to the consultants' original report. "You're talking big money here, and how it's going to be split," Lower Manager James R. Stump, township MUA executive director, said of each authorities' still undetermined share of that bill. "Then you have to pay to use the ocean outfall. •THESE ARE STAGGERING numbers," he added, for township MUA customers who will also be paying for state-required upgrading of its Villas treatment plant. According to Metcalf & Eddy's original report, connecting that facility to the county MUA's plant at Sunset Beach — where both would discharge into the bay through extended outfalls — is more expensive than the ocean outfall alternative The consultants reported that improved bayfront discharge would run $19,759,000 in capital costs at $2,069,000 a year with $183,000 in annual operating and maintenance for a $2,252,000 yearly bill To achieve adequate dilution of the treated sewage in the bay waters, Metcalf & Eddy figured the outfall should be extended offshore to a depth of 32 feet, Norkis explained, "and that's really far out." "These (bayfront outfall lengths) varied in distance from shore from one to four miles west and southwest of Cape MayPoint. " according to the Planning Board summary of the original report. •RUNNING A PIPE UNDER water is about $1,500 a foot." Stump estimated, compared to about $150 a foot on land Because of that cost, he and Norkis said, they asked Metcalf & Eddy to find out if treated sewage could be properly diluted in shallower water, say 27 feet. Norkis was optimistic about that and based his prediction — that bayfront discharge would be cheaper — on that. Metcalf and Eddy also priced three other options: •Land "application" of waste from both plants was the most expensive ($31,824,000 in capital costs. $3,810,000 a year), primarily because of the projected expense in buying the land necessary. •Land application of the township MUA's sewage, while the county MUA plant discharged into the bay. would cost $25,988,000 in capital cost and $3,073,000 a year, according to the original consultant's report. •Township MUA use of the ocean outfall and county MUA discharge at the baywould cost $17,982,000 in capital costs and

$2,155,000 a year, Metcalf & Eddy reported. "BASICALLY, IT COMES down to two choices," Stump said of bayfront or ocean discharge for both plants. And "quite a lengthy process" is involved in obtaining required approvals for outfalls into the bay from the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), he observed. That influenced Metcalf & Eddy's "Evaluation and Recommendation" in its original report : "The use of ocean outfall off Wildwood Crest was found to be the most economical and environmentally sound alternative. The fact that the outfall is already constructed was a major factor in considering economic feasibility. The fact that the outfall has already received the approval of state and federal agencies also influenced the evaluation." Whether the DEP will approve a bayfront outfall for the two treatment plants is still a question mark. The township MUA was prohibited from discharging directly into the bay when its plant was built more than a decade ago. The DEP told the authority to use Cox Hall Creek instead. SINCE THEN. THE DEP has banned discharges into the bay to protect local oyster beds. In 1958, 25,000 acres of them were closed to harvesting statewide because of pollution and 75 percent of the local beds were destroyed by a shellfish virus in the late '50s. The million bushel-a-year oyster industry that employed 2,000 workers a generation ago was reduced to 20,000 bushels by 1960 and to 200 workers by 1977. The shellfish virus persists and the DEP is obliged to weigh oystermen's concerns - with any local pitch for a bayfront outfall. Ever since the township MUA began discharging into Cox Hall Creek, the authority's been plagued by odor complaints. They led to a DEP inspection of the plant in 1984, reports of high fecal coliform bacteria levels off the creek's bayfront discharge pipe and a county Health Department study that called the plant "the major source of the contamination eventually reaching the Delaware Bay "

WARNING SIGNS AGAINST bathing were posted near the discharge pipe in 1984 and the DEP told the local MUA to improve the plant and its lagoon treatment equipment. Metal signs replaced the wooden ones last spring and it's posted again this year as bacteria counts climb with the summer heat But improvements to the treatment lagoons have not been made. The township MUA was tentatively scheduled to upgrade and expand the plant last fall, but that's been delayed. Meanwhile. Stump's been chlorinating the creek. He and his predecessor as MUA ex 5 Maureen Covlr TAKING A PEEK — David Bailey, of i the Cape May Court House 4-H Club, Marine Division, shows Jennifer Selby. 5. a live Horseshoe crab at the "Touch Tank" during the fourth Annual Cape May Seafood Festival Saturday. Jennifer is the daughter of Fred and Maureen Selby of I Deptford. The Selby's were visiting grandparents Mary and Bill Coffey of North 1 Cape May.

ecutive director, former Lower Mayor Joseph Roop, have insisted that fecal coliform contamination off Cox Hall Creek comes from other sources than the local MUA plant. High bacteria levels were recorded in the vicinity even before it was built, Stump has noted. Last June, he asked the county Health Department to try again at tracking down other sources of contamination by performing a Fecal Coliform -Fecal Strep Ration test to determine the amount of human and animal waste in bay waters. That test confirmed his suspicion that most of the bacteria was from animals and, therefore, not from the plant. Stump told authority members in February, though, that the DEP might "put pressure" on the township MUA "because of the failure to meet our discharge permit last month (January)." "THERE WAS A discussion concerning some of the plant problems," according to the MUA's Feb. 12 minutes. "The large amount of sludge in the lagoon (two million gallons) was one of the topics discussed." Stump advertised for sludge removal bids earlier this year and they came in at $400,000 minimum, he said last week. "I really hate to spend $400,000... just to take the sludge out," he added, preferring to use that money toward upgrading the plant. Estimating a design study at $100,000 in April, Stump last week said he expects its completion around November. With four months afterward to design plant improvements, he said he hopes to award a contract to upgrade the plant in March or April with 18 months of construction following. Upgrading the plant will cost $6 million to $8 million with around the same price tag for connecting the plant to a bayfront or ocean outfall, he estimated, still looking for a grant to help finance the project. "Otherwise, this is going to be borne by 10,000 customers" of the township MUA which operates on a $2.3 million annual budget," he noted. "The impact it has on our customers is significant."

Next Vote July 1 VILLAS — Solicitor Bruce Gorman, a Democrat, won belated ratification of his 1986 contract Monday night on a 3-2 party line vote from Lower Township Council. It approved the $40,000-a-year agreement, retroactive to January, on an identical June 2 vote in closed session. Republican Councilman Robert F. Conroy, whose party forms Council's majority July 1, has proposed to rescind the contract then. Gorman argues, however, that Conroy and GOP Councilman David F. Brand Jr. voted for the agreement in January when only the solicitor's billing format was left unsettled. On a 4-1 vote, with Conroy dissenting, Council also voted Monday to pay Gorman's outstanding vouchers. Stepping Down VILLAS — Mayor Robert Fothergill presented plaques to Lower Township Councilmen Joseph Lonergan and David F. Brand Jr. on Monday night to commemorate their two years' service in the municipal government. Both leave office June 30 and their replacements take over the following day. "They have the township at heart," said Fothergill. "They're both going to miss us and, believe you me, we're certainly going to miss them." "I think we're leaving the township in pretty good hands." said Lonergan, agreeing with Brand that "we've got a fine buch of people working here." Lower Dems Reorganize VILLAS — Democratic county committee members in Lower Township last week reelected Eugene O'Brien as chairman and Lonnie Mattia as vice chairman, with Grace Bielakowski as secretary and Agnes Coyle as treasurer. Earl "Joe" and Alice Klinger will cochair the Ways and Means Committee with Anthony Bertino Jr. and Mattia cochairing Publicity, Catherine Krebbs and May Brett on Communications and Frank Krebbs on Recruiting with Cass Clark. Bruce Gorman is the legal advisor.

Day Care Lost County Money

(From Page 1) money being spent. I do not know that we could preclude anybody." In other words, the general public probably has access to the school, which charges $9 a day for a five-day week. $10 a day for a part-time week. ••I DON'T REALLY care; we can open it up completely," said Thornton. "1 agree," said Freeholder Herbert Frederick. "If tax dollars are spent, we can't preclude anybody." "But we don't want to compete with private enterprise," added Thornton, "and there are a number throughout the county providing that service." By comparison, a quick check with a private day-care center found it charged $12 a day for full-time pupils. $6 for a halfday. It had vacancies for both its summer and fall programs. ••I CAN GO for one year," said Sturm "But as a matter of personal philosophy. I object if government is doing something private enterprise can. If it can't get off the ground, we'll have to get out of it." Kilpatrick said "start-up costs" were the key factor in the budget deficit. The school spent $'.0,300 for equipment. $3,950 for supplies. $3,350 for carpeting and $1,500 for some room modifications. Other expenses included $19,590 for salaries. $3,075 for food. $1,000 for insurance and $200 for telephone. KISTLER'S 1986-87 budget projects $1,000 for bathrom renovations, $4,500 for. supplies. $9,600 for food, and $22,500 for salaries. He projected 20 full-time students, from an expanded 12-month school year, would pay $43,200, giving the scljool a $6,200 profit. Vo-Tech Career Center Principal Susan Smith said she had "no idea why they're not coming." She said the school has space for up to 30 pupils, but the state requires one staff member for every 10, so another teacher aide would be needed if enrollment went over 20. KILPATRICK pointed out that the

school is "incorporated into the vo-tech ' program, training people to go into day care, giving them a hands-on learning experience." Frederick asked if those students paid tuition. Kilpatrick said he wasn't sure Smith told this newspaper the program is offered to "child care occupations" students who can either be high school or post-secondary. The latter pay $230 for the course, she said, but the money does not go into the pre-school budget The county in 1984 tried a "Home-Based Children Care Course" which was suppos ed to train Public Assistance recipients to enable them to offer child care in their homes and get off Welfare. That was cancelled because of "not enough interest in the program" Smith said last week.

Toll Plaza ( From Page 1 ) Hurley wrote that "the takeover" could be achieved by the end of this year. Jarmer told his board that was "optimistic." And Hurley wrote that the project would cost $10 million Jarmer told his board that was probably "underestimated " As for the need to link a new toll plaza to the deal. Jarmer said. "They'll do almost anything, but it's gotta pay." There was no mention in Hurley's June 4 memo of Shell Bay Avenue, where the county also has hoped for an overpass. But Hurley did write that James Conlon, NJHA chief engineer, said the Parkway "would be willing to reconstruct Exit 6 (at Route 147) to accommodate northbound traffic from the south with a new exit and i to reconstruct the southbound exit ramp. A Parkway takeover of the state highway presumably also would mean closing access of other roads to the Parkway, making it a true "freeway". That would precede the overpasses.