| Your GOVERNMENT | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Exploring the Future of Matawan’s Water & Sewer Utility
A Strategic Path Toward Reliable, Modern, and Affordable Infrastructure
The Borough of Matawan is currently engaged in an exploratory process under the Water Infrastructure Protection Act (WIPA) to determine the most responsible and cost-effective path forward for the operation and long-term sustainability of our water and sewer utility systems.
This initiative is grounded in our commitment to protecting public health, ensuring ratepayer value, and delivering high-quality service through modern, well-maintained infrastructure.
Significant Investments in Our Utility Systems
Over the past several years, the Borough has made substantial capital investments to improve the safety, reliability, and performance of our water and sewer systems. These investments include:
New Water and Sewer Main Upgrades: Replacement of aging water lines across key service areas to improve flow and pressure reliability, reduce breaks, and enhance fire protection capacity.
Pump Station Rehabilitation Projects: Five of the Borough’s ten sanitary sewer pump stations have already been upgraded or fully replaced to modern standards, extending service life and improving operational resilience.
New Pumps and Electrical Systems: Significant improvements were made at the Water Treatment Plant, including the installation of new high-efficiency pumps, electrical controls, and generator systems, to ensure uninterrupted service and energy reliability.
Emergency Interconnection Enhancements: Improved water interconnections with Aberdeen Township and New Jersey American Water to enhance backup supply capabilities during high-demand or emergency conditions.
Capital Planning and Asset Evaluation: A detailed 10-Year Capital Improvement Plan was developed to strategically guide future infrastructure improvements based on real-time system assessments and operational needs.
These proactive steps demonstrate the Borough’s commitment to responsible stewardship of public assets and forward-looking planning to meet future demand.
Why Consider the WIPA Process Now?
The Borough of Matawan has made and continues to make meaningful and strategic investments in our water and sewer utility systems. Recent upgrades include new well pumps, water main replacements, pump station rehabilitations, and emergency interconnection improvements. These efforts reflect our strong commitment to providing safe, reliable, and modern infrastructure to our residents.
However, the cost of fully modernizing and maintaining the entire utility system represents a substantial long-term investment of public funds. Given the scale of these financial commitments, it is both prudent and responsible to consider all available options to ensure that utility services remain sustainable, efficient, and affordable for our ratepayers.
The Water Infrastructure Protection Act, or WIPA, provides a legal and transparent framework for municipalities like Matawan to explore whether continued public ownership or a partnership with a qualified public or private utility operator would best serve the community's needs now and into the future.
This is a fact-finding and community-driven process. No decisions have been made. The Borough is committed to gathering the facts, engaging with residents, and making the most informed decision possible to protect public health, infrastructure integrity, and affordability.
What is WIPA?
The Water Infrastructure Protection Act (WIPA) is a New Jersey state law that allows municipalities to explore a potential sale or lease of water and sewer systems only under defined emergent conditions, and only after a public process.
Matawan’s system qualifies under the law due to several key factors, one of which is its location within a Critical Water Supply Area, as designated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). Specifically, the Borough lies entirely within Critical Water Supply Area #1, a region identified by the State as having limited groundwater availability, high water demand, and increased environmental sensitivity.
Public Hearing – August 19, 2025
Tuesday, August 19, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Matawan Municipal Community Center
201 Broad Street, Matawan, NJ
At this hearing, the Borough will present the findings of four technical reports that will help inform our decisions:
- Emergent Condition Analysis – Borough of Matawan (July 2025) (click here)
- Prepared by Remington & Vernick Engineers, this report outlines the specific conditions under which the Borough qualifies to enter the WIPA process.
- System Asset Evaluation and Capital Improvement Plan (click here)
- Provides a detailed assessment of existing water and sewer system infrastructure and outlines projected capital needs over the next 10 years.
- Utility System Valuation Report – Borough of Matawan (click here)
- Estimates the value of the Borough’s water and sanitary systems.
- Independent Financial Advisor Water and Sewer Systems Asset Valuation (click here)
- Prepared by NW Financial Group, this report evaluates the market, income, and replacement cost value of the Borough’s utility systems, estimating an overall system value. It also reviews debt capacity, capital needs, rate impacts, and recent comparable transactions to inform WIPA-related decision-making.
- Resolution 25-06-15 – Designating Public Hearing Date Under WIPA (click here)
- Official resolution adopted by the Borough Council on June 15, 2025 scheduling the August 19, 2025 public hearing to determine whether emergent conditions exist under the Water Infrastructure Protection Act.
- Public Hearing Notice – August 19, 2025 (click here)
- Formal notice of the public hearing where the above documents will be presented and discussed with the community.
Our Commitment to You
Regardless of the outcome, whether the Borough retains ownership or engages with a public or private partner, we are committed to ensuring:
✔ Safe and reliable water and sewer services
✔ Continued infrastructure upgrades and emergency readiness
✔ Transparency and community involvement
✔ Affordable rates that reflect real value
Stay Informed and Engaged
The August 19, 2025 public hearing is an important first step in what will be a multi-month process. No decision will be made at that hearing to sell the utility.
Following the public hearing, the Borough must submit the required documentation to the State of New Jersey for review and approval. The State will then have 30 days to determine whether the Borough has met the criteria to proceed under the Water Infrastructure Protection Act (WIPA).
If the State approves, the public will have an additional 45-day period to appeal the decision.
Only after this State review and public appeal period has concluded may the Borough consider issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit formal offers from qualified public or private utility providers.
A decision to sell or retain the utility cannot and will not be made until that process is complete and the Borough has had the opportunity to review all proposals, analyze ratepayer impact, and receive additional public input.
This is a deliberate, transparent process guided by public interest and community involvement every step of the way.
We encourage all residents to stay informed and engaged:
- Attend the August 19 public hearing and future meetings
- Read the full technical reports linked above
- Contact the Borough Administrator’s Office at 732-566-3898, ext. 601, or email at ryan.michelson@matawanborough.com with questions or comments
This webpage will be updated regularly with new materials and official actions as the process moves forward.
