Published in the Asbury Park Press
BY JEAN MIKLE
TOMS RIVER BUREAU
DOVER TOWNSHIP — The township's two boards of fire commissioners have joined together to adopt a resolution supporting Dover's efforts to convince the state Board of Public Utilities to revoke United Water Toms River's franchise to operate here.
"Safe, adequate and reliable water service is essential, and the board supports the council's petition," said George Convery, chairman of the board of commissioners for District 1.
The commissioners pointed out that United is responsible for maintenance of the township's water supply infrastructure, and optimum performance is necessary to fight fires.
"The uncertainty surrounding United Water's ability to facilitate its responsibilities is concerning, especially when our health and safety are at issue," said District 1 Commissioner Craig Ambrosio.
In early March, the township filed a petition with the BPU, asking the board to revoke United Water's franchise because the company's negligent conduct, the township contends, has endangered the public health and safety of township residents.
The petition asked the BPU to order the appointment of an independent receiver to operate the water company until the board decides whether or not to revoke the franchise.
This is the third time since 1991 that Dover has filed a petition with the BPU questioning the adequacy of the company's water service.
Previous petitions asked the BPU to force the company to drill new wells or construct new storage facilities.
But this time, the object is to force the utility out of Dover.
It was filed less than a month after township officials learned that United had violated state law by failing to report to the state or to residents seven instances of elevated radiation levels in its system discovered during routine testing in 2005.
That news came after the state Department of Environmental Protection's September announcement that it had banned almost all new connections to United's system because the company had exceeded its state water allocation in three of the past five years. That ban has halted almost all new construction in Dover, South Toms River and the Holiday City and Silver Ridge sections of Berkeley, all areas served by United Water.
The company has been fined $104,000 by the DEP for the water allocation violations and an additional $64,000 for failing to report the elevated radiation levels.
The company has applied for a new permit to increase its water allocation. DEP officials have indicated it will take several more months for a decision to be made on United's permit application.
Published in the Asbury Park Press 04/11/06
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