Monmouth Times

Monmouth Beach, NJ – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) on June 5 announced that the Two Rivers Water Reclamation Authority (TRWRA) will receive $20 million in federal funding to help upgrade its wastewater treatment plant at a press conference with Governor Murphy, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Senator Vin Gopal and TRWRA Executive Director Mike Gianforte. TRWRA will use the funding to replace a damaged sewer line and build a new main pump station in a lower risk area. The funding comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) COVID-19 Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. 

“New Jersey’s resilience against the effects of future storms has been one of my top priorities ever since Superstorm Sandy devastated our state over ten years ago. This funding will help make critical improvements to the sewer line and pump station that will safeguard our rivers and surrounding waters from a devastating sewage spill and future flooding events,” said Pallone. “I’m grateful to Governor Murphy, Senator Menendez, and Senator Gopal for their support of this project and our coastal communities.”

“Thanks in no small part to the tireless work of FEMA and our congressional delegation, this project will help protect tens of thousands of New Jerseyans from future storms and flooding,” said Governor Murphy. “Crucially, by committing federal dollars toward the overhaul of this critical infrastructure, the State will realize a considerable return on its investment of FEMA resilience funding without imposing additional taxpayer burdens. It’s smart, forward-looking investments like these that will better prepare and protect our local communities and economies against the worsening impacts of climate change.”

“The reality is that because of climate change, we’re seeing what were once 100-year floods more and more frequently. In some cases, we’ve seen them in consecutive years or even more often, and we simply can’t afford to be playing those odds with our critical infrastructure,” said U.S. Senator Bob Menendez. “This federal and state investment for the Two Rivers Water Reclamation Authority will play an essential role in ensuring that coastal communities in Monmouth County are protected for generations to come. I was proud to advocate along with Congressman Pallone for this federal funding of $20 million to support the project.”

“We need 21st century infrastructure to support the Monmouth County of the future and protect us against extreme weather events like major flooding,” said Senator Vin Gopal. “These projects are fundamental to keeping our communities clean, healthy and prepared. Thanks to this infusion of funding, Monmouth County will have a modernized infrastructure to safeguard our communities and natural resources. This will be instrumental during storm events to keep our homes, businesses, and beaches disaster free.”

Original source can be found here