North Hudson Sewerage Authority announces:



NHSA INSTALLS TEMPORARY OUTFALL INTO HOBOKEN/WEEHAWKEN COVE 


HOBOKEN, NJ (DECEMBER 12, 2012) — The North Hudson Sewerage Authority has installed a 
temporary outfall into the Hoboken/Weehawken Cove at 16th Street and the Hudson River. The 
temporary outfall is being used while the permanent 60 year old, underground outfall pipe 
running from the Adams Street treatment plant to the River undergoes extensive repair and 
rehabilitation. The temporary outfall empties into the Hudson above ground, as opposed to the 
permanent outfall under repair, which runs below ground for its entire length. 


The discharge into the Hudson River is highly treated effluent at a secondary level, fully 
compliant with all NJ Department of Environmental Protection requirements. The latest 
monthly monitoring (November), which is regularly reported to the State, demonstrated that 
the effluent exceeded the NJDEP requirements for treatment in all categories. This level of 
treatment makes the water discharged through the temporary outfall even cleaner than the 
State mandates. 


The rehabilitation of the permanent underground outfall line will take approximately 18 
months. The line is being repaired because of its age (over 60 years old) to ensure its integrity 
for decades to come. This preventative maintenance avoids potential underground sewer line 
breaks and leaks which can lead to roadway collapses and environmental spills. The repairs 
have nothing to do with adding treatment capacity at the Adams Street plant. 


Dr. Richard J. Wolff, Chairman of the NHSA, said, “We know that the public is not used to seeing 
the treated effluent being discharged into the Hudson above the water line. Normally, the 
discharge is below the water surface. However, we should keep in mind that the effluent is 
exceeding secondary treatment levels. So, by all environmental standards, it is extremely clean. 
As soon as we are able to complete the repair of the below ground permanent line, we will take 
the temporary above ground line out of service.”