BRICK – The 1.6-mile walking path surrounding Brick Reservoir will be temporarily closed to the public, beginning in August and lasting approximately 10 months for the completion of a project that involves structural modifications to the 90-acre body of water.
Brick Township Utilities Authority (BTMUA) project manager Alina Ferreira and the director of water quality Joe Maggio gave a joint interview to explain the scope of the project.
“Basically, the gist of the project is, we’re extending the depth of the reservoir where we feel comfortable being able to give us more water to use,” he said. “We’re stabilizing the sides of the reservoir so rain doesn’t impact the sides of the reservoir.”
A concrete-filled fabric “blanket” constructed on the interior of the reservoir will allow it to hold “significantly more water,” to bolster the water supply, and prevent erosion, Maggio said. The blanket will look like matting.
As the water gets lower in the reservoir, a sandy area is visible, but will no longer be once the concrete is in place, Ferreria explained. “This way, when it rains, the sand won’t erode.”
Heavy construction equipment will be onsite for the improvement project, which is why the walking path will be closed to safeguard the public, she said.
This summer, BTMUA will be lowering the water level by about 15 feet in preparation for the improvements. The reduction will be accomplished through usage so water isn’t wasted, Maggio said.
A 40 millimeter-thick vinyl liner (about the thickness of a credit card) and 18 inches of packed soil lines the bottom of the reservoir that contains the water pumped in from underground pipes connected to the Metedeconk River and Forge Pond.
The liner was the first of its kind to be constructed in New Jersey, and at the time was only the second to exist in the country. Maggio estimated the liner has a lifespan of about 50 years.
The construction cost is about $8 million, Ferreira said, and the work is being completed by an outside contractor.
Maggio said the project will make the utility more resilient because the reservoir has been “an incredibly important source water for us” since it was constructed.
“It protects us against droughts like we had last November – there was an extended period of time when we were running a great deal using reservoir water,” he said.
“The level got lower last November than it ever has been since it was constructed. It was really beneficial that we had the reservoir,” he added.
Looking forward to the next 50 years, there will be additional droughts and other water supply restrictions, so this project ensures that the reservoir will continue to supply Brick residents and other customers with water,” Maggio said.
They acknowledged the inconvenience of temporarily closing the walking path to the public but the benefit to the water system is “immeasurable.”
It is the expectation that the walking path will reopen as it currently appears, Maggio said.
Brick Reservoir provides water for Brick Township, the Ramtown section of Howell Township, Point Pleasant Beach, and supplements the water supply for Point Pleasant Boro and Lakewood.
Further updates, including the exact closure date and expected reopening schedule will be posted on the BTMUA website as they become available at
Brickmua.com
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