Published in the Asbury Park Press
BY JOE ZEDALIS
TOMS RIVER BUREAU
Suggests joining Dover Township in reviewing records
BERKELEY — Mayor Jason J. Varano said he will recommend to the Township Council tonight that it join Dover Township in reviewing United Water Toms River records.
United Water services the Holiday City and Silver Ridge retirement communities and a section of Manitou Park within Berkeley.
"United Water needs to be made to tell the truth," Varano said Wednesday. "They fumbled the numbers, the local office lied and they tried to fix test results. There's no way they can be trusted any longer."
Township Attorney Patrick Sheehan said the Township Council could present a resolution tonight.
"I think the council would like to have a say on who is named monitor," Sheehan said. "At the very least, we would like to have access to the information Dover Township gets."
Superior Court Judge Vincent J. Grasso on Tuesday gave Dover Township authority to appoint an overseer and furnish the township with all records and data about United Water's operations, water quality data and testing.
United Water told Berkeley it wanted to build a water treatment plant on Santiago Drive West. The plant would filter radiation from ground water.
"The senior coalition is frustrated and the township is unhappy with the information being provided," Varano said.
The problem, he said, is with the two filtration tanks United Water wants to construct next to private homes.
"To be honest, I wouldn't be comfortable with a nuclear waste sign on a canister next to my home," Varano said. "They told us they don't believe there is an alternative site . . . given their track record, we just can't believe that. Santiago Drive can't be the only site they considered.
"We'd rather see the plant out in the woods and if they have to dig another well, so be it," Varano said.
A new well, however, would cost the company millions of dollars and take years of obtaining permits before digging could begin.
United Water spokesman Richard Henning said Tuesday the water company would probably not challenge Grasso's decision.
"There is nothing that our management team would like more than to be able to make sure we are all on the same page," he said.
Published in the Asbury Park Press 06/15/06
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