New water valve not required in Sussex
SUSSEX BOROUGH — Sussex Borough officials were informed on Dec. 2 that they do not need to install an insertion valve in a 12-inche water main at the corner of Route 284 and East Main Street.
As Ferraro Construction, Inc., started to install the insertion valve — a valve which can be installed while a water system is under pressure — an existing normal working valve was discovered. Therefore, the proposed insertion valve is not necessary.
Other valves also were successfully shut off at Loomis Avenue, Main Street, Munson Street, Fourth Street, and Lower Unionville Road. As a result, if another leak occurs along the Route 23 Realignment construction site, it can now be isolated.
The cost of the work already completed is yet to be calculated, but the borough saved a great deal of money by not needing an insertion valve.
In addition, the New Jersey Department of Transportation was planning to install two insertion valves near Fourth Street. Mayor Jonathan Rose suggested scheduling their work at the same time with Sussex Borough, so that insertion valves would not be necessary.
The tentative plan is to shut off the water around the construction area during the week of Dec. 15. The work will occur at night in order to minimize disruption to business and residents.
The council unanimously approved a $150K bond anticipation note in response to an estimate of $149,875 from CP Engineers & Architecture, regarding an insertion valve and valve replacement project along Hamburg Ave, within the Route 23 project.
Mayor Jonathan Rose said the proposed valve project was to avoid what happened two weeks ago when the Borough was required to drain the Sussex Water System to repair two water main breaks in the system.
After a contractor cut through a water main, the borough was unable to isolate the section because a valve froze in an open position. The proposed insertion valves are unique in that they may be installed while a water system is under pressure. Hence, the Borough would not need to drain the water system in a similar situation.
Rose explained that it was a “ticking time bomb which happened to go off now.”
The council authorized Ferraro Construction Inc. to mobilize Wed., Dec. 3, because contractors struck another 1-inch main the morning of Dec. 1, creating an “urgency,” continued Rose.
Ferraro's solution was to install one insertion valve at a cost of $26,595, instead of nine insertion valves which CP Engineers had recommended.
Rose said the distribution system of the water treatment was “a trial by fire, and it is time to concentrate on the distribution system.”
Councilwomen Linda Masson and Georgeanna Stoll discussed the DOT and contractors taking some financial responsibility for hitting the water lines.
Stoll asked if there was “any way for the contractors to be responsible for some part” or “percentage” which was their fault.
Borough Attorney Francis J. McGovern said that the contractor calls the town for the location of lines. However, the Council could possibly explore “potential litigation” during executive session.