New Jersey borough moves to fund long-delayed water and sewer upgrades

Officials in Manasquan, New Jersey, have approved new utility fees aimed at addressing long-standing funding gaps for maintaining and upgrading the borough’s aging water and sewer infrastructure. 

The Manasquan Borough Council recently passed an ordinance amending its water and sewer utility regulations to add new infrastructure and conservation charges. Borough leaders said the changes are intended to generate dedicated funding for system maintenance, future upgrades and improved long-term financial stability for the municipality’s utility systems.

Under the ordinance, residential and nonresidential users will pay a new $30 quarterly infrastructure fee to help fund repairs and capital improvements to the municipal water and sewer network. In addition, a conservation charge of $2 per 1,000 gallons will apply to water usage exceeding 100,000 gallons annually, with the fee assessed on the excess consumption in the following year.

Water and sewer base rates will continue to be set annually by council resolution and billed in equal quarterly installments. Usage charges will remain tied to water meter readings, while properties not connected to both services will continue to pay separate water-only or sewer-only rates.

Local officials said the new fee structure reflects rising infrastructure costs and the need to address deferred maintenance across the borough’s underground utility systems while encouraging more efficient water use during periods of peak demand.