Roads and utilities

Sewer utility, pump stations and water mains

Bridgewater's sewer utility (about 350 miles of lines) sends wastewater to the Somerset Raritan Valley Sewerage Authority, at a 2026 treatment cost of $6,075,076. The Council awarded the $2,946,000 Middle Brook Pumping Station Phase 2 contract on April 9, 2026, financed through the state Water Bank; a Warren developer sued the township in July over a sewer approval, Patch reported.

Checked against the primary record on . Every figure on this page is sourced at the foot of the article.

Middle Brook pump station rebuild contracted; I&I program planned for 2027 Last moved

What happens next

The Director of Municipal Services said on Aug. 20 that a phased inflow-and-infiltration program will be in the 2027 budget request, and that the Middle Brook contract runs to June 30, 2027. The 2027 budget will be introduced at a public Council meeting.

Two systems serve Bridgewater homes. The township’s sewer utility owns the collection lines and pump stations and bills customers; treatment is done downstream by the Somerset Raritan Valley Sewerage Authority (SRVSA). Drinking water in much of the township comes from New Jersey American Water, a private company; some homes have private wells.

The sewer bill. Mayor Matthew C. Moench said on Feb. 19, 2026 that the bill has two parts, Public Works sewer staff and equipment and the SRVSA invoice, and that “any increase in the sewer bill reflects an increase in the SRVSA invoice.” The 2026 budget was introduced on April 9 with a Sewer Fund of $13,924,398.82. Director of Municipal Services Thomas Genova said on Aug. 20 that treatment is about half the utility’s operating budget.

Pump stations. The Middle Brook station (built 1969) is being rebuilt in a $4.1 million Phase 2 project financed through the New Jersey Water Bank; the construction contract went to Sovereign Consulting Inc. for up to $2,946,000 (5-0). The Gilbride Road station (built 1983), which Genova said gets 70% of its flow from Warren Township and has had “five pump failures in recent years,” is being evaluated under a $40,500 Colliers contract approved Aug. 20.

Water mains and the courts. New Jersey American Water told the township it plans to replace the North Bridge Street main “sometime in 2027” after two breaks this summer. Separately, Gardens at Warren, LLC sued Bridgewater on July 14, 2026 over the township’s review of a sewer approval for a Warren housing project, Patch reported; no ruling has been found. The explainer covers each item.

What residents can do. Sewer billing questions go to the township’s Sewer Utility office; water service and main breaks to New Jersey American Water. The sewer budget is adopted with the municipal budget at public Council meetings, where residents can comment. Corrections: info@localwhy.org.

Water and sewer, explained

Timeline

Each dated event on this issue, oldest first, linked to the full sourced entry.

  1. Resolved Council approves a $4.1 million Water Bank note for the Middle Brook pump stationRes. #26-03-19-098 set the form of a New Jersey Infrastructure Bank Water Bank construction-financing note, principal up to $4,100,000, for the Middle Brook Pumping Station Phase 2 project. Adopted 5-0.
  2. Resolved Middle Brook pump station rebuild awarded to Sovereign Consulting for up to $2,946,000Res. #26-04-09-104 awarded the Middle Brook Sanitary Sewer Pumping Station Phase 2 contract to Sovereign Consulting Inc. (Robbinsville), up to $2,946,000, "funded through the Sewer Bond Ordinance #25-13." Adopted 5-0.
  3. In court Gardens at Warren sues Bridgewater over a sewer approvalGardens at Warren, LLC, developer of a 28-unit inclusionary project in Warren Township whose sewage would pass through Bridgewater's pipes, sued the township over its review of a Treatment Works Approval, Patch reported. The township said it does not comment on pending litigation.
  4. Resolved Sewer utility presentation; Gilbride Road station evaluation approvedDirector of Municipal Services Thomas Genova reported a 2026 treatment cost of $6,075,076 and plans for the Gilbride Road station, the Headgates Dam sewer siphon and a 2027 inflow-and-infiltration program. The Council approved a $40,500 Gilbride Road evaluation by Colliers, 4-0.

Explainers

Documents

The township's own records on this issue. Each links to the official copy.

Meetings

  • Township Council — September 3, 2026

    After an 11-speaker hearing, the three members present (Bucko, Kirsh and Geiger; Isla and Ring absent) adopted data center ordinance #26-15, 3-0. Planner Sarmad said it does not change where data centers are permitted but sets standards for use-variance applications. The Council also approved a $133,000 housing trust fund grant for a group home at 305 Raymond Court. Vosseller Avenue residents asked for permanent speed measures.

  • Township Council — August 20, 2026

    With Isla absent, the Council adopted the omnibus Master Plan ordinance #26-14 and introduced a data center and hyperscale data center ordinance, each 4-0. Planner Sarmad said a concept plan filed with the 1200 Route 22 subdivision application was included in error and has no legal effect. The sewer utility director presented pump station and inflow work; the Van Veghten Drive paving contract was cut to its $784,430.75 base bid.

  • Township Council — August 6, 2026

    With Isla absent, the Council adopted the fire hydrant snow-clearing ordinance #26-13, 4-0, and introduced the omnibus Master Plan ordinance, 4-0, with its data center language removed for later review. A listed repeal of the 1200 Route 22 redevelopment plan was taken off the agenda. Twelve residents spoke, most on data centers. The police chief reported a Bogart Drive speed study, and Visions and Pathways presented Bridge House.

  • Planning Board — July 21, 2026

    The agenda listed the continued Cornell Boulevard affordable housing hearing (25-026-PB), Vincent Tropeano's minor subdivision at 15 Campbell Court, and three resolutions. Patch reported that the developer's engineer said NJDOT had denied a Route 202/206 driveway and that the hearing was carried to August 4. LocalWhy has not yet reviewed minutes of this meeting.

  • Township Council — July 9, 2026

    The Council adopted three bond ordinances, each 5-0: #26-10, $4,205,000 for the emergency radio system; #26-11, $1,900,000 for road improvements; and #26-12, $2,500,000 for drainage. It awarded $133,505.50 for the Philip and David Miller Park basketball courts. The Mayor reported the 2025 audit complete with one recommendation. Residents raised a possible data center at the Greymark property and the Melick farm stand.

  • Planning Board — July 7, 2026

    The agenda listed initial hearings for Mark Muller's lot line adjustment at 2114 Primrose Lane and 1001 Vosseller Avenue and Viscofan USA's site plan with bulk variances at 141 Southside Avenue, and resolutions for SRVSA, New Jersey American Water and Rann Moshea. LocalWhy has not yet reviewed minutes of this meeting.

  • Planning Board — June 2, 2026 (special meeting)

    A special meeting at the Bridgewater library. The agenda listed hearings on New Jersey American Water's site plan at 100 Polhemus Lane and Rann Moshea's major subdivision at 59 Cornell Blvd., and three resolutions to memorialize. LocalWhy has not yet reviewed minutes of this meeting.

  • Planning Board — April 21, 2026

    The Board adopted, 6-0, the resolution memorializing its approval of 1200 Route 22 Land Investors LLC's preliminary major subdivision of the Greymark tract (25-021-PB). It heard a courtesy review of the Somerset Raritan Valley Sewerage Authority's new administration building at 50 Polhemus Lane. The Cornell Boulevard housing hearing was carried to May 19 after the developer's attorney gave an update on the state transportation review. No member of the public spoke.

  • Township Council — April 9, 2026

    The Council introduced the 2026 municipal budget, 5-0: a Current Fund of $54,903,722.86 and a Sewer Fund of $13,924,398.82, with the municipal rate proposed to rise from 0.2440 to 0.2448. It also introduced the cap-bank and revised multifamily snow ordinances and awarded the $2,946,000 Middle Brook pump station contract. Residents raised speeding on Vosseller Avenue and Allen Road.

  • Township Council — March 19, 2026

    The Council approved a NJ Water Bank financing note of up to $4,100,000 for the Middlebrook pump station and an amended school resource officer agreement, 5-0, and split 3-1-1 on Municipal Alliance appointments. The multifamily snow-clearing ordinance was tabled again for revisions. Isla raised the accuracy of the Planning Board agenda for the Greymark subdivision; the Finance Committee reported on the budget.

  • Township Council — February 19, 2026

    The Council introduced four Fourth Round affordable housing ordinances, 5-0, for a March 5 hearing, and approved 5-0 the professional appointments that had failed on February 5. It also named an Acting CFO and approved the Middlebrook pump station engineering contract, the first step toward a grant-funded Garretson Road sidewalk and the County recycling agreement.

  • Township Council — February 5, 2026

    A consent motion on eight professional-appointment resolutions failed 2-3 (Kirsh and Ring for; Bucko, Isla and Geiger against) and was carried to the next meeting. The Council backed Hudson Tunnel funding, approved the 2025 LOSAP list and a $75,000 grant application for Alfred E. Brown Park tennis courts, all 5-0, and tabled the County recycling agreement. Residents raised the Rockland APV battery application and school crosswalk safety.

  • Township Council — January 8, 2026

    The Council filled Board of Adjustment seats in a series of split votes, adopted a temporary 2026 budget of $21,736,006.64 (amended up from $20,160,000), 5-0, and approved the township's auditor, risk managers, affordable housing agent and liaison posts. Health Commission appointments were tabled after the Mayor raised a point of order.

  • Township Council — December 17, 2025

    In the outgoing Council's last meeting, with Councilman Pedroso absent, the Council adopted Ordinance 25-24, replacing the AH-3 zone at Cornell Boulevard, 4-0, after 17 people spoke at the hearing, and the $4.1 million Middle Brook sewer bond (#25-13), 4-0. It also adopted the BRCC and C-1 zone changes, certified the 2024 audit, approved 2026 employee health insurance, the 2024–2027 police contract and Sarah Housman as Director of Finance, and rejected a special tax counsel agreement, 2-2.

  • Township Council — December 3, 2025

    Meeting a day early by township notice, with Councilman Ring absent, the Council introduced Ordinance 25-24, replacing the AH-3 zone at Cornell Boulevard, 3-1 (Pedroso nay), after a Somerville resident and Council-elect Joan Geiger asked that it wait for the new Council. It adopted the massage, health-fee and towing ordinances (#25-21 and #25-22, 3-1; #25-23, 4-0), held the hearing on the $4.1 million Middle Brook sewer bond and carried its vote to December 17, and introduced the BRCC and C-1 zone ordinances.

  • Township Council — November 6, 2025

    With Councilman Pedroso absent, the Council introduced, 4-0, a $4,100,000 bond ordinance for Phase 2 of the Middle Brook sewer pumping station and ordinances on massage businesses, the towing roster and health fees. It renewed Stavola's 2026 quarry license, awarded a snow-removal contract of up to $60,000 to RJM Landscape and Design, and approved a $642,997.23 paving contract for Plymouth Road, Ryan Way and Jeffrey Lane. The Planner reported medical-office interest at the Somerset Corporate Center.

Sources for this overview

  1. Township Council minutes, Aug. 20, 2026 (Sewer Utility presentation)
  2. Township Council minutes, April 9, 2026 (Sovereign Consulting award; Sewer Fund budget)
  3. Township Council minutes, March 19, 2026 ($4.1 million Water Bank note)
  4. Township Council minutes, Feb. 19, 2026 (Mayor on the sewer bill)
  5. Township Council minutes, Aug. 6, 2026 (North Bridge Street water main breaks)
  6. Patch, "Housing Developer Sues Bridgewater Over Refusal Of Sewer Approval," July 27, 2026
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