Scott Schreiber, the executive director of the Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority (CCMUA), is passionate about his work in wastewater management.
As one of the largest sewage treatment facilities in New Jersey, the CCMUA manages the sewage from nearly half a million residents.
During a recent tour, Schreiber highlighted the importance of their service, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, stating, ‘I’ve never turned on the TV or read a newspaper or anything where anyone was worrying about if they were going to be able to flush the toilet.’
This underscores the essential nature of their operation, which has not missed a day of work amid global chaos.
However, Schreiber acknowledges that rising sea levels present significant challenges ahead for the facility.
The threat of local flooding looms large, as floodwaters could potentially overwhelm the CCMUA’s systems, causing raw sewage to back up into basements or spill untreated waste into nearby waterways.
With a service area covering 36 towns, he and his team are actively seeking a solution to avoid such disasters.
One proposed fix is a flood wall, around a mile long and up to 12 feet high, projected to cost approximately $70 million.
Planning for this critical infrastructure update has just begun, and it’s part of a broader initiative aimed at ensuring the continued safe processing of sewage as water levels rise.
Experts at the CCMUA emphasize that emergencies resulting from climate change and rising seas are not a question of if, but when.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has warned that the area could experience a sea-level rise of 2.5 to 3.5 feet by the year 2100 if greenhouse gas emissions remain unchecked.
Schreiber points to increased storm intensity as a contributing factor, noting that the plant can handle a maximum of 185 million gallons of sewage daily during storms, which is often tested during heavy rainfall.
A recent Rutgers University analysis suggests that by century’s end, the Camden County region could face a sea-level rise of as much as 5 feet if no action is taken to mitigate emissions.
According to Oleg Zonis, the director of engineering at the CCMUA, the flood wall’s construction will involve concrete-filled steel piles delving deep into the ground and vinyl piles for additional water control.
This engineering solution aims to bolster the facility’s defenses against the threats posed by climate change.
Historically, Camden County had over 50 wastewater treatment plants from the 1950s to the 70s, many of which discharged only partially treated sewage into local waterways, contributing to pollution and creating “dead zones” in the Delaware River.
Today, the primary threat to local water treatment no longer comes from widespread discharge but from rising ocean levels and concentrated rainfall, making infrastructure like the proposed flood wall necessary.
Zonis highlights the massive scale of the project, with the proposed flood wall being built to withstand increasing climate-related pressures.
The urgency of the situation is clear, especially with combined sewer systems in Camden and nearby Gloucester, which collect both stormwater and sewage.
During intense rainfall, these systems can quickly reach capacity, leading to harmful overflow into the nearby waterways.
A past incident demonstrated this risk, as Newark’s sewage plant faced an ecological crisis during Hurricane Sandy, releasing “hundreds of millions” of gallons of untreated sewage into New York Harbor due to power outages.
Thus, the necessity for robust infrastructure reinforces the urgency for preventive measures.
Franco Montalto, a Drexel University professor involved in the study of these systems, emphasizes that most climate change research limits itself to flooding without comprehensively addressing combined sewer overflow issues.
This emphasis on local analysis is critical in understanding and tackling the challenges ahead.
Both Camden and Gloucester, serviced by the CCMUA, are currently the only cities in the county utilizing combined sewer systems, highlighting the need for strategic upgrades.
As rising river levels increasingly complicate stormwater management, Schreiber notes that pumping stations may soon need to be installed at outfalls to maintain effective drainage.
In addition to the flood wall, the CCMUA plans to construct another wall around a vital electrical substation that supports the sewage plant operations, ensuring that essential services remain uninterrupted.
Due to structural fires threatening this station in the past, the added protection is deemed critical, although it could take up to four years to finalize.
Schreiber warns that another $40 million to $50 million will be required for other necessary modifications, such as drainage systems and pumping equipment to deal with flooding.
The comprehensive estimate for these resilience improvements totals between $120 million and $130 million.
If all goes to plan, the project could reach completion by 2029 or 2030, following a rigorous two years of planning and design work.
However, funding remains a significant obstacle.
Amid anticipated cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency under President Donald Trump’s administration, officials at the CCMUA are concerned about future financial support for these irrigation and infrastructure projects.
Nonprofit organization Environmental Protection Network has projected a staggering 90% reduction in revolving funds for drinking water safety, translating to a drop from $2 billion to about $300 million according to current estimates.
Such drastic cuts would force the CCMUA to seek market-rate financing for necessary projects, significantly increasing costs.
Schreiber described the potential impact of these federal funding cuts as “insane,” marking the effects it could have on local ratepayers.
As operational and climate-resilient expenses rise, the sewage bills for average homeowners in Camden County may double over the next five years, skyrocketing from $372 annually to as much as $750 or even $1,000.
This trend is not isolated to Camden County; similar rate hikes are being observed in other states, including Pennsylvania, which has already enacted 15% increases to tackle aging infrastructure.
Schreiber warns that without a drastic change in federal perspectives towards climate action and funding necessary projects, the communities served by the CCMUA face an uncertain future.
The stakes are high as rising seas, extreme weather events, and outdated infrastructure could potentially endanger both public health and local waterways.
As communities anxiously await more clarity and decisive action, the urgency to address these challenges grows steadily, highlighting a looming crisis that demands immediate attention.
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