Today, New Jersey American Water celebrated the completion of a significant expansion project at its Oak Glen Water Treatment Plant in Howell, N.J., with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the grounds of the plant. This $26.2 million project ensures stability of its water supply and flexibility to support continued growth in the Monmouth and Ocean County region.

“Today we come together to celebrate the completion of a critical infrastructure project for the people of Monmouth and Ocean counties,” explains Cheryl Norton, president of New Jersey American Water and senior vice president, eastern division of American Water. “This project would not have been possible without the strategic vision of our leadership team, countless hours of planning and the many professionals who were dedicated to making this project a reality.”

“Strengthening our state’s utility infrastructure is a high priority for the Board,” said The Honorable Joseph L. Fiordaliso, President, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. “I congratulate New Jersey American Water for completing this important project and improving the reliability and safety of this critical system for its customers.”

New Jersey American Water’s Oak Glen Water Treatment Plant was originally constructed in 2003 and remains one of the most critical water supply assets to the region’s people and economy. The plant is a part of the company’s Coastal North water system, which serves a population of about 335,000 throughout Monmouth and Ocean Counties. It is located on 11.6 acres of land in the heart of Monmouth County, along a river-to-reservoir pipeline, with two primary sources of water supply – the Manasquan River and Manasquan Reservoir.

In recent years, peak demands have increased at the plant, mainly due to rapid population growth in the region. In 2014, this rapid growth prompted New Jersey American Water to consider alternatives to meet growing demand in an area that is water resource stressed. New Jersey American Water evaluated both the current state and potential future needs of the Oak Glen Water Treatment Plant and developed a proposed solution.

The Oak Glen Water Treatment Plant expansion project commenced in 2016. The project, totaling $26.2 million, would include various enhancements and upgrades needed to meet peak demands and increases in regional demand for potable water. With these upgrades, the maximum capacity at the Oak Glen Water Treatment Plant would be increased from 10 million gallons per day (GPD) to 17.5 million GPD.

The following enhancements were completed, as part of the Oak Glen Water Treatment Plant expansion project:

  • An addition to the existing Process Building to house additional water treatment equipment
  • Installation of an additional pump in the distributive pump station
  • Installation of a third backwash clarifier
  • Addition of a new standby electric power generator to replace the existing unit, providing emergency power for the entire facility
  • Associated upgrades to the chemical feed, electrical and instrumentation and control systems
  • Addition of a pole barn for equipment storage and maintenance
  • Associated upgrades to the grounds (driveways, etc.), stormwater management facilities and other site improvements.

The expanded Oak Glen Water Treatment Plant was placed into service in June 2018 and the project was successfully completed in June 2019.

“This project, along with many of our infrastructure investment projects, helps our team produce clean, safe, reliable water to our current customers, while giving us the ability to serve additional customers well into the future,” added Norton.

For more information on New Jersey American Water, visit www.newjerseyamwater.com. For specific information about other investment projects, navigate to “Water Quality” and select “System Updates” on our website navigational tabs.

New Jersey American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 2.7 million people. For more information, visit www.newjerseyamwater.com and follow New Jersey American Water on Twitter and Facebook. With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 7,100 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to an estimated 14 million people in 46 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to make sure we keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit www.amwater.com.