S.B. may bond $3M for radioactive wells
Situation prompts halt on issuance of construction permits
BY CHRIS GAETANO
Staff Writer

The South Brunswick Township Council has introduced a $3 million bond appropriation for fixing local wells found to have radioactivity levels in excess of federally mandated standards.

Officials hope that the issue will be resolved as soon as possible because the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has put a hold on all construction permits until the matter is addressed.

In May, township residents were informed that the radium levels in well 11, located off Ridge Road in Dayton, and well 13, off Georges Road in Dayton, were in excess of federal safety guidelines. The radium levels of the wells in question were found to be between 6.6 and 7.7 picocuries per liter (pCi/L), while Environmental Protection Agency standards allow 5. The gross alpha radiation levels were found to be between 20 and 27 pCi/L, while the EPA standards allow 15.

According to the township, the water does not present an immediate health threat, but excessive consumption might carry a long-term cancer risk. Ron Schmalz, township public affairs coordinator, said that the two wells involved have been out of service for almost two years and were used to supplement water supplies in the summer peak months when they were active. Schmalz said that the township is still weighing its options as to what course of action should be taken, with a full discussion on the matter to take place during the July 10 work session.

The discovery has drawn attention from the state Department of Environmental Protection, which has put a hold on all construction approvals in South Brunswick until the wells are fixed. While applications will continue to be heard and processed by local land use boards, any project that will draw water in the town will not be able to acquire a certificate of occupancy, which allows the structure to be inhabited. Schmalz said that this turn of events should be only a minor problem, provided the township acts quickly.

During the June 26 council meeting, Mayor Frank Gambatese said that there is already another well online that will replace the water lost from the two contaminated ones. With this in mind, he questioned the DEP's wisdom in halting applications.

"They will not give us the OK until these wells are fixed, despite the fact that we have a new well coming on board which would supplement all of the water droppage from the other two wells. It's something I think we really need to take an issue with, especially as we get into our summer months, which may require a surge. If we have a hot, long summer, we could have a problem with demand," Gambatese said.

The bond appropriation could be voted down should the township agree on a course of action requiring a different amount. According to township Chief Financial Officer Joseph Monzo, the ordinance's introduction was only to get the ball rolling. The council agreed that the process of fixing the wells needed to get started as soon as possible.

"We have two valuable assets - well 11 and well 13 - that require attention. It's going to be expensive, we all know that ... but we need to get started," Councilman Charles Carley said.