NJ I-Bank Finances Resilience: Brick Township MUA borrows $1million from NJ Resilience Infrastructure Bank saving the Authority approximately $339,000.

The Brick Township Municipal Utilities Authority ("BTMUA") recently completed a critical infrastructure project to enhance the resilience of its raw water reservoir. The project is being financed with approximately $1 million in 1% interest loans from the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank ("I-Bank") saving the BTMUA an estimated $339,000. Funding was made available through Community Hazard Assistance Mitigation Program ("NJ CHAMP"), a program residing within the I-Bank's New Jersey Resilience Bank and co-administered jointly by the New Jersey State Police Office of Emergency Management and the I-Bank. NJ CHAMP offers affordable financing for hazard mitigation and climate resiliency projects statewide.

NJ CHAMP financing supplemented FEMA and State grant funding that enabled BTMUA to fully fund the multi-million-dollar project. This initiative also provided a local economic boost, generating approximately 12 direct one-year construction jobs, supporting skilled trades and businesses in the area.

The BTMUA project strengthens the upper portion of the reservoir's interior slopes to prevent erosion when water levels fall below the existing riprap protection. During low-water periods, unprotected soil can be exposed and gradually wash away. Left unaddressed, this erosion undermines the reservoir's structural stability, reduces storage capacity, and threatens embankment integrity. Sediment carried into the reservoir further limits its ability to hold water for treatment and distribution. Recognized as the highest-priority capital project in BTMUA's 2019 Water Supply Master Plan, this initiative is essential to protecting long-term water supply integrity and ensuring system reliability.

A concrete-filled geotextile mattress was installed along the exposed side slopes and ledge of the man-made reservoir. This erosion control method provides a durable, low-maintenance solution that enhances the reservoir's ability to withstand extreme weather conditions, consistent with the resiliency goals of the NJ CHAMP program.

"The completion of the Reservoir Project is a major step forward in protecting Brick Township's drinking water supply," said Lisa Crate, Mayor of Brick Township. "By strengthening the integrity of our raw water reservoir, we are not only safeguarding a critical resource against future storms and emergencies but also ensuring long-term resilience for our residents. Thanks to the low-cost financing provided by the NJ Resiliency Bank, we were able to complete this essential work while saving taxpayers a substantial portion of the project's cost. It is a smart investment in the safety and sustainability of our community."

This project was designed by Colliers Engineering & Design, Inc., and constructed by Seacoast Construction, Inc.

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