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Allendale council hears updates on PFAS treatment and ongoing sewer-capacity disputes with developers
Summary
Council President Homan told the council Veolia is moving forward with a permanent PFAS treatment installation at New Street, and the borough attorney reported litigation and developer approaches seeking to use Allendale’s sewer capacity; engineers have questioned whether the system can accept more flow.
At the May 8 meeting the council received updates on water and sewer matters that the borough described as central to upcoming work and litigation.
Council President Homan said the borough is advancing plans to address PFAS contamination in drinking water. “Veolia is moving forward with the permanent treatment facility at New Street,” she said, describing a plan that would route wells to a central treatment location and remove PFAS before distribution. Homan said Veolia and borough staff had met to discuss operations and minimize resident impacts.
On sewer infrastructure, Homan said camera inspections of selected pipes did not reveal leaks in the first inspected locations; the borough will expand inspections after Memorial Day. The clerk and staff will alert residents if work requires yard access.
The borough attorney reported that developers from neighboring Saddle River had inquired about connecting projects to Allendale’s sewer system. “We have been inundated both in a litigation sense and in an overture sense by developers in Saddle River seeking to build projects in that town and to utilize Allendale's sewer system,” the attorney said, and added that engineers have expressed concerns about accommodating additional flow. The attorney confirmed the borough is litigating with at least one developer on related matters and will provide periodic updates.
Mayor Amy Evolinski said the borough is actively working on its fourth-round fair share housing obligations and has completed a hazard vulnerability study and a master plan that the borough expects to adopt soon. Council directed staff to continue coordination with Veolia and to schedule further sewer inspections and engineering assessments.
The meeting did not include new approvals for sewer expansion; council members noted that capacity questions and litigation will shape future decisions.
