The Ocean County Utilities Authority is a
regional wastewater reclamation system which
operates three wastewater treatment
facilities with a total combined capacity of
eighty million (80) gallons per day. The
collection system consists of forty (40)
pumping stations, approximately two hundred
(200) miles of force main and gravity lines,
and three ocean outfall lines which serve
thirty-one (31) municipalities in Ocean
County and five (5) municipalities in
Monmouth County. On average more than ninety
percent (90%) of the pollutants normally
found in the wastewater received are removed
before discharge of the treated effluent to
the ocean at points over a mile from shore
at depths of forty (40) feet or more, with
high dilution ratios. This system replaced
approximately forty (40) package sewerage
treatment plants that in some cases provided
significantly lower levels of treatment and
discharged effluent into inland streams,
bays, and outfalls only short distances from
shore. The citizens of Ocean County are
indeed fortunate to have state-of-the-art
treatment facilities available to
accommodate both present and future growth
as well as a dedicated group of hardworking
personnel doing their best to protect the
public health and environment. Without their
skills, expertise and above all their
commitment, operation of the Authority's
treatment facilities would be impossible.
The OCUA was founded for the purpose of protecting and
preserving our area's vital environment for
current and future generations and by so
doing ensure a healthy ecology, a robust
economy and a high quality of life for our
citizens. The skilled and dedicated men and
women at OCUA accomplish this by effectively
collecting and treating wastewater from our
service areas' thirty-three municipalities
and then recycling a safe, clean water back
into the natural ecosystem. Our philosophy
is to never lose sight of those we are
committed to serve; residents, businesses,
public institutions and the millions of
seasonal visitors to the many attractions
located throughout our service region. All
of the plans, improvements and system
changes are made to ensure that we continue
to meet or surpass all mandated federal and
state regulations and standards and to
operate the Authority at as low a cost to
our customers as possible.
Located
at the end of Hickory Lane in the Berkeley Township Section of Ocean
County, the Central Water Pollution Control Facility (CWPCF) is
home to the Authority Administrative Offices, Fertilizer Manufacturing
Division, Central Services and Technical Services Divisions and the
Central Division, which is composed of a secondary wastewater
reclamation facility and nineteen pumping stations. The treatment
facility began operation in November 1979 and is designed to treat a
combination of domestic, light industrial and commercial wastewaters as
well as septage generated from within the Authority service area. The
facility has a rated capacity of 28 million gallons per day and is
currently seeking rerating to 32 million gallons per day. After
disinfection, treated facility effluent is discharged through a gravity
outfall into the Atlantic Ocean approximately one mile offshore.
The CWPCF has undergone a number of physical changes since 1979. These
include the construction of additional process units, a cogeneration
system which provides a portion of the heat and energy required by the
facility, a fertilizer manufacturing facility, flow equalization basins
and an emergency influent pump station. Currently under construction is
an emergency power generating facility. The facility has consistently
met the effluent requirements of the USEPA and the New Jersey Department
of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and has received awards from both
the USEPA and the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies (AMSA).
Staff members of the Central Division are extremely proud of their
accomplishments and are dedicated to protecting, maintaining and
improving the quality of our bay and ocean waters while providing a
vital service to the communities of Ocean County.
The
Northern Water Pollution Control Facility (NWPCF) is a secondary
wastewater treatment facility located in Brick Township, Ocean County,
NJ. Recently re-rated to treat a maximum of 32 million gallons per day
the North Plant processes domestic sewage and some light industrial
waste. After receiving treatment, the plant’s effluent is disinfected
and discharged to the Atlantic Ocean via an outfall pipe, which extends
out into the ocean over 1 mile (6,464 ft). Since going on-line 1976 the
facility has consistently met or exceeded NJDEP effluent discharge
permit requirements and has been the recipient of numerous awards from
the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies (AMSA), see awards
page. With its 40 employee’s and 8 pump stations, the NWPCF provides
wastewater treatment service to the communities of Bayhead, Bricktown,
Mantoloking, Point Pleasant Beach, Point Pleasant Borough and Lakewood &
Jackson Townships. Sewage from the Manasquan River Regional Sewage
Authority is also treated by the facility. The management and staff of
the Northern Water Pollution Control Facility are dedicated to the
continued improvement of the state’s coastal water quality and to
providing a high level of service for its communities.
The
Southern Water Pollution Control Facility (SWPCF) is a secondary
wastewater treatment facility located in Stafford Township, Ocean
County, NJ. The plant is designed to treat domestic and light industrial
waste at a rate of 20 million gallons a day. After receiving treatment,
the plant’s effluent is disinfected and discharged to the Atlantic Ocean
via an outfall pipe, which extends out into the ocean 5,000 feet. In a
news article published by the Asbury Park Press in January 1996, the New
Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) stated that the
department reopened 490 acres of ocean bottom for surf clam harvests due
to improved water quality and “The biggest improved area was around the
outfall pipe for the treated water from the Ocean County Utilities
Authority treatment plant in Stafford Township.” Since going on-line
1977 the facility has repeatedly met or exceeded NJDEP effluent
discharge permit requirements and has been the recipient of numerous
awards (see awards page). The management and staff of the Southern Water
Pollution Control Facility are dedicated to the continued improvement of
the state’s tidewaters and coastal water quality.
The OCUA has received numerous awards
throughout the years from various institutions and organizations
including The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) Peak
Performance Awards, which are presented to member agency facilities in
recognition of their outstanding wastewater treatment efforts. Gold
Awards are presented to facilities that achieve 100% compliance with
their National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits
for an entire year. The Silver Award recognizes facilities that have
five or less NPDES permit violations in a calendar year. Platinum
Awards are presented to facilities that have achieved 100% compliance
with their NPDES permit for five consecutive years. Since 1989 the
OCUA, between our three facilities, have recieved twelve (12) silver
awards, thirty-seven (37) gold and five (5) platinum awards from NACWA.
The
Northern Water Pollution Control Facility (NWPCF) is a secondary
wastewater treatment facility located in Brick Township, Ocean County,
NJ. Recently re-rated to treat a maximum of 32 million gallons per day
the North Plant processes domestic sewage and some light industrial
waste. After receiving treatment, the plant’s effluent is disinfected
and discharged to the Atlantic Ocean via an outfall pipe, which extends
out into the ocean over 1 mile (6,464 ft). Since going on-line 1976 the
facility has consistently met or exceeded NJDEP effluent discharge
permit requirements and has been the recipient of numerous awards from
the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies (AMSA), see awards
page. With its 40 employee’s and 8 pump stations, the NWPCF provides
wastewater treatment service to the communities of Bayhead, Bricktown,
Mantoloking, Point Pleasant Beach, Point Pleasant Borough and Lakewood &
Jackson Townships. Sewage from the Manasquan River Regional Sewage
Authority is also treated by the facility. The management and staff of
the Northern Water Pollution Control Facility are dedicated to the
continued improvement of the state’s coastal water quality and to
providing a high level of service for its communities.
The OCUA has received numerous awards
throughout the years from various institutions and organizations
including The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) Peak
Performance Awards, which are presented to member agency facilities in
recognition of their outstanding wastewater treatment efforts. Gold
Awards are presented to facilities that achieve 100% compliance with
their National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits
for an entire year. The Silver Award recognizes facilities that have
five or less NPDES permit violations in a calendar year. Platinum
Awards are presented to facilities that have achieved 100% compliance
with their NPDES permit for five consecutive years. Since 1989 the
OCUA, between our three facilities, have recieved twelve (12) silver
awards, thirty-seven (37) gold and five (5) platinum awards from NACWA.
