Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla and U.S. Rep. Rob Menendez (D-8) are applauding five new stormwater pumps coming to ResilienCity Park, which received federal funding and is a joint effort between the city and the North Hudson Sewerage Authority (NHSA).
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“[Last week’s] announcement is a significant step in our ongoing efforts to protect Hoboken residents from flooding,” Mayor Ravi Bhalla said in a statement.
“Through our partnership with NHSA, we are investing in critical infrastructure to create a more resilient city for future generations.”
As part of Phase III of NHSA’s H6/H7 Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Long-Term Control Plan (LTCP), the pump installation is a transformative development in the city’s efforts to manage stormwater and reduce sewer overflows during heavy rainfall events.
Mandated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), the 25-year LTCP, includes projects to increase treatment plant capacity and build detention facilities for better stormwater management.
“This is an important environmental and quality of life project for Hoboken and NHSA’s entire service area,” added Menendez.
“I am proud to have supported the federal funding that made this possible and look forward to the positive impact it will have on our community. This is yet another example of the importance of continued infrastructure funding, something I will continue to advocate for in Congress.”
NHSA is the first wastewater authority in New Jersey to complete its CSO LTCP and gain approval from the NJDEP, underscoring its leadership in environmental protection.
The H6/H7 project will modernize Hoboken’s sewer infrastructure, reduce the risk of flooding and enhance water quality.
This includes constructing a high-level storm sewer system that will work alongside the new stormwater pump station and the 1-million-gallon storage tank beneath ResilienCity Park.
The new ABS/Sulzer Submersible Non-clog Pumps will be able to push approximately 30 million gallons of stormwater per day (or 20,000 gallons per minute) out of the storage tank to the Hudson River during a storm event.
The stormwater removed will free up capacity at the treatment plant and reduce combined sewer overflows to the river.
“The installation of the pumps at ResilienCity Park is a milestone for our Longterm Control Plan and a major step in mitigating flooding and contributing to a cleaner Hudson River. NHSA’s investment in the pump station and necessary sewer upgrades around the park is close to $100 million, $58 million of which came from the Biden infrastructure program,” noted NHSA Executive Director Richard J. Wolff.
“This is an indication of how seriously NHSA takes its responsibility to the community. Although it may seem like a distant goal, we thoroughly endorse the NJDEP’s long-term effort to make the Hudson River swimmable once again. I would like to thank the Mayor for his constant cooperation and Congressman Rob Menendez for his support for this project.”
Hoboken’s low-lying topography and aging sewer infrastructure make it vulnerable to flooding, with as little as 0.8 inches of rain per hour overwhelming the system.
ResilienCity Park, along with other resiliency parks, now serves as a critical detention space for stormwater during peak rainfall, helping prevent overflow of the combined sewer system and flooding in streets and basements.
Since 2016, the H1 flood pump in southwest Hoboken and the H5 flood pump in northwest Hoboken have been instrumental in preventing flooding during approximately 88 percent of rainstorms.
Together, they have the capacity to pump out approximately 90 million gallons of stormwater per day.
The addition of this third pump station at ResilienCity Park significantly expands the pumping capacity and ensures improved coverage in Hoboken’s northwest neighborhood.
Phase II of the H6/H7 project also includes new storm sewers and a force main along the Adams Street corridor.
These improvements connected the ResilienCity Park storage tank to the NHSA outfall at 15th Street, further improving stormwater management in Northeast Hoboken.
Phase III is currently underway and includes new sewer lines and curb inlets to capture runoff and alleviate drainage and potential flooding issues across Northwest Hoboken.
