WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT PLANNING
Commercial Redevelopment
Franklin Township, Somerset County, NJ

Project Description:

The client plans to demolish existing site structures at a commercial property to facilitate construction of a new, 14,738 square feet Walgreens pharmacy. Whitestone has been retained to determine the most appropriate means of wastewater disposal for the proposed redevelopment and address wastewater management plan consistency requirements compliant with N.J.A.C. 7:15.

Whitestone’s initial evaluation of the site’s poorly operating septic system determined that reconstruction would be necessary. A subsequent soils investigation identified unfavorable subsurface conditions not conducive to long term, successful septic system operation. As a result, Whitestone proposed abandonment of the existing on-site sewage disposal system and connection to the public sanitary sewer.

In order to connect to the public sanitary sewer, the receiving sewage treatment plant must have capacity, and the property must be designated for sewer service in the appropriate Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP) and Wastewater Management Plan (WMP).

The site was initially located within the regional Lower Raritan Middlesex WQMP area, which is under the management of the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders (MCBCF). As such, Whitestone prepared and submitted a WQMP Amendment to MCBCF and NJDEP requesting modification to the site’s sewer service designation.

Rule changes to N.J.A.C.7:15 that became effective July 7, 2008 transferred WMP responsibility from MCBCF to the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders and prevented completion of the original WQMP Amendment process. Whitestone contacted involved officials and subsequently provided project documentation to Somerset County and Franklin Township requesting that the site be included in the sewer service area of the new county-wide WMP. Recent communication with NJDEP indicates that connection to the sewer system will be allowed upon adoption of the new Somerset County WMP.

Once the proposed sanitary sewer connection has been approved, Whitestone will provide construction phase inspection and testing services for a sanitary pump station and approximately 2,700 linear feet long force main.

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