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Montgomery officials outline sewer upgrades, introduce ordinance to set 2026 sewer rates
Summary
Town officials described upgrades to Montgomery's wastewater system, including a Pike Brook plant expansion and new effluent requirements effective April 2027; the committee introduced an ordinance to set 2026 sewer capacity charges and rates and scheduled a public hearing for May 14.
Town wastewater staff and the township CFO presented a detailed overview of sewer operations, recent upgrades and proposed rate changes during the April meeting.
Longtime wastewater official Jim Cosgrove described consolidation of treatment plants over recent decades and said the Pike Brook Treatment Plant is being expanded from a permitted 670,000 gallons per day to 829,000 gallons per day to accommodate recent connections, including flow from a nearby industrial connection. Cosgrove said regulatory effluent limits in the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection permit will tighten in April 2027 and require more advanced treatment.
"Pike Brook Treatment Plant is presently rated for 670,000 gallons a day. With the expansion, it's going up to 829,000 gallons a day," Cosgrove said.
Finance staff said the sewer operating budget is increasing about 3.5% (from $8,258,000 to $8,537,000 billed in the draft) and that the base fee would remain at $2.88 while the usage fee would rise by about 2% from 15.65 to 15.96. Officials attributed much of the increase to debt service, higher utility and chemical costs and planned capital work (including Pike Brook upgrades).
The committee introduced Ordinance 26‑1775 to amend chapter 12 (sewer and water) to establish the 2026 sewer capacity charges and sewer rates; the ordinance passed first reading and will have a public hearing and final vote on May 14.
What happens next: The ordinance will be open for public comment and a final vote at the May 14 meeting; staff said they will continue to answer resident questions about billing and capital timing in advance of that hearing.
