Carteret, NJ – Mayor Daniel J. Reiman joined the Middlesex Water Company (NASDAQ:MSEX) to announce the company’s upcoming investment of $10.0 million to modernize drinking water infrastructure in sections of the Borough of Carteret, New Jersey. Under its 2019 RENEW Program, Middlesex Water Company intends to replace 4.0 miles of water mains, as well as service lines, valves and fire hydrants. The work is being performed to replace aging infrastructure and improve fire flows and overall service quality.
“Continued investments to improve Carteret’s infrastructure and new construction are ushering our Borough into the future,” said Mayor Reiman. “New pipes and freshly-paved roads will service our nearly-complete Carteret Performing Arts Center, upcoming Ferry Terminal, new restaurants, movie theater mixed-use residential and commercial buildings, and future Marriot Hotel.”
As part of the RENEW Program, Middlesex Water will be installing exterior meter pits at each customer’s premise. Relocating meters outside of homes to exterior pits is a long term plan to offer customers greater convenience and safety. First, exterior meter pits will be installed. Then, during their eventual scheduled meter testing, Middlesex Water will relocate each customer’s interior meter to the company-owned exterior meter pit.
“Water is a life sustaining precious natural resource,” said Dennis Doll, President and Chief Executive Officer of Middlesex Water. “Our RENEW Program helps us to better preserve our water resources by methodically restoring the integrity of our water distribution system within the project scope area, thereby minimizing the potential of future leaks or main breaks in that vicinity,” said Doll. “This commitment to proactive asset management ultimately results in lower long term costs and helps avoid emergency repairs which can cost three to five times more than planned upgrades,” added Doll.
RENEW is part of Middlesex Water’s overall Water for Tomorrow® Program,
a multi-million infrastructure investment initiative which consists of various projects designed to strengthen the Company’s water distribution infrastructure for continued service reliability, resiliency and water quality. Other projects underway include construction of a large diameter transmission main through parts of Edison and Metuchen, conversion to ozone disinfection at the Company’s largest New Jersey treatment plant, improvement to existing storage tanks and planned construction of additional elevated storage.
Customers affected by RENEW can expect to be without water service for a period of 2-3 hours as their service is transferred 
from the old main to the new main. Middlesex Water will always strive to reduce the project impact on residents.
Project work areas, Frequently Asked Questions and Contact Info can be found at www.waterfortomorrowmwc.com/renew or by calling Middlesex Water at 800-549-3802. Middlesex Water is obtaining funding for the project from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.
RENEW in Carteret is expected to take 6 months to complete. While the Company makes every effort to minimize the impact of our work on traffic, residents may observe some traffic disruption as the roadway is trenched to accommodate the construction of a new water main. There will also be excavations when the service lines are connected to the new mains. This will impact traffic flow, but on a smaller scale. Affected customers will receive additional details about the project. Residents can expect unimpeded access to their homes as crews work to replace and install the new mains and meter pits.
The Company determines which water mains are to be replaced based on historical record and asset management records. These records include the size and composition of the existing pipe, the date the pipe was installed and other relevant operational data. Main installation will conclude with compaction and temporary pavement restoration followed by final pavement restoration after the area has settled.
The program may require that water personnel enter customers’ homes. Customers are strongly reminded to ask for credentials from utility personnel prior to allowing them entry and, for added security, should contact Middlesex Water Company at 800-549-3802 to verify the authenticity of the utility representative at their door. Customers affected by the RENEW Program will receive further notice if access to their home is required.
