Roxbury and State to Talk About Ledgewood Water Line Extension

ROXBURY, NJ – Roxbury and state officials are scheduled to meet this week to discuss running public water mains down a portion of Emmans Road in Ledgewood, a section where unhealthy chemicals were found in private water wells in 2022.

Roxbury Township Manager John Shepherd said the “kick-off meeting,” with representatives of the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will take place Thursday. The goal is to get the state to use its Spill Fund money to help pay for the water line extension.

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Residential wells in the so-called “Ledgewood Basin” area were found to be contaminated with Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) a substance considered to be a “potential carcinogen.” The DEP has funded the installation of water filtration systems in affected homes and seems agreeable to funding a connection of those homes to the municipal water system.

“We provided them … some time ago with a map of the area, which we currently have from about 12 years ago, showing the water line extension we planned at that time,” said Shepherd at a recent Roxbury Township Council meeting. “So they have that in their possession at this time. I think we are ready to go, from our end, to discuss with them what our thoughts are on just how we are going to get this project moving and how it’s going to unfold.”

He said he is hopeful the state officials will “be ready to move forward with it” quickly because “even on a fast-track you know it’s going to take time.” Even with the maps, the project will take “full engineering, design, permitting and construction,” said Shepherd on Tuesday. “But at least there will be a plan, and we’ll have, hopefully, a commitment from DEP to fund the project.”

He said a big question is how far down Emmans Road the water line would be extended.

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Roxbury Mayor Jaki Albrecht said New Jersey Natural Gas might be planning to install gas lines in the area, a project that would require the roads to be opened. She said a resident asked whether the water mains could be installed simultaneously.

Shepherd said that’s not likely, given the state has yet to approve the funding and, if it does, the amount of design, planning and permitting needed before actual installation can take place.

Related coverage:

Bucco: Dump Not Likely Causing PFAS in Roxbury Wells

State Might Fund Extending Town Water to Homes Near Old Dump, say Roxbury Officials

PFAS Chemicals Found Beneath Former Roxbury Dump, State Will Test Water at 40 Nearby Homes

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