Request for Transparency in Township Water and Wastewater Management
I am writing to request full transparency regarding the management of water and wastewater services in The Township of Mount Laurel, New Jersey including drinking water, stormwater, and wastewater systems. As a resident, I seek a clear understanding of the policies, processes, and data related to these critical public services.
Please provide the following information:
·Drinking Water Management:
Sources of the township’s drinking water supply and recent quality testing results.Details on treatment processes, infrastructure maintenance, and compliance with state and federal regulations.
Planned or ongoing upgrades to the drinking water system, including timelines and funding sources.
Reports on any past or current issues, such as contamination events or service disruptions.
·Stormwater Management:
Details on the township’s stormwater management plan, including infrastructure (e.g., drains, retention basins) and maintenance schedules.
Information on how stormwater runoff is monitored and controlled to prevent flooding or environmental harm.
Data on compliance with environmental regulations, such as the Clean Water Act or local ordinances.
Recent or planned projects to improve stormwater systems, including funding and timelines.
·Wastewater Management:
Details on the township’s wastewater collection and treatment processes, including facility locations and capacities.
Recent testing results for treated wastewater discharge and compliance with environmental regulations.
Maintenance schedules and planned upgrades for wastewater infrastructure, including timelines and funding sources.
Reports on any past or current issues, such as sewer overflows, treatment failures, or environmental impacts.
·Public Access and Reporting:
Availability of regular reports or dashboards summarizing drinking water, stormwater, and wastewater quality, usage, and system performance.
Procedures for residents to access water and wastewater management data or report concerns.
Opportunities for public participation in water and wastewater-related decision-making processes.
I kindly request that this information be made publicly accessible in a clear, comprehensive format, such as through the township’s website or public meetings. If any fees or specific procedures are required to obtain this information, please advise.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. Ensuring transparency in water and wastewater management is essential for the health, safety, and trust of our community. The MUA's mission statement agrees.
I look forward to your response within 10 business days (due to the lengthy nature of this request), and to ongoing efforts to keep residents informed.
Sincerely,
Brian Schroeder
Brian Schroeder
c/o [OPRA #76786 email]
Re: Memorial Weekend OPRA requests
Dear Requestor:
Mount Laurel Township received your multiple OPRA requests today upon returning from the Memorial Day weekend. As such, the Township has seven business days to respond with Wednesday, May 28th being Day One. Please further note that the Township is on summer hours and the Township is closed on Fridays through Labor Day weekend. Please accept this timely response to each of your requests.
As previously noted, Mount Laurel Township (the “Township”) and the Mount Laurel Township Municipal Utilities Authority (the “MUA”) are two separate entities. As such, the MUA, which handles the Township’s drinking water system and wastewater sewer systems. Stormwater systems are either controlled by the State, County, Township or private ownership depending upon their locations.
Your first request starts with “Please provide the following information:” The Township (and the MUA) can only respond under OPRA if the requestor identifies a specific document. The next section and the third section of the request seek information about “Drinking Water Management” and “Wastewater Management.” As previously noted, those requests must be directed to the MUA. The middle section seeks information on the Stormwater Management plan with generic terms such as “Details on…”, “information on…”, “Data on…”, and “Recent or planned projects…” None of these items seek specific records and, as such, the request is denied.
The fourth section of the first request is entitled “Public Access and Reporting.” Like sections 1 and 3, this section does not provide any requests for specific documents and is therefore denied.
Second Request.
You second request seeks categories of records with the Township’s response following:
1. All records of stormwater basins at 10 Elbo Lane, including design, capacity, maintenance reports, usage and any water transfers, per Chapter 134 and N.J.A.C. 7:8.
Response – 10 Elbo Lane is private property. The Township does not maintain a specific file on basins which may be located on that property and the Township is not required to search all of its documents to find potentially responsive records.
2. Permits, licenses, environmental reports, or inspections for 10 and 41 Elbo Lane from 2020 to 2025, including any tied to Colonial Pipeline Co, MUA Water Operations or pipelines to I-95/I-295.
Response – the Township does not maintain permits, licenses or environmental reports for either of those properties. Therefore, this request is denied.
3. Records of pipeline infrastructure from 10 Elbo Lane to the Turnpike Authority Building near 1-95/I-295, including ownership, purpose (water or petroleum) and usage reports.
Response – The Township does not maintain records related to pipeline infrastructure from 10 Elbo Lane or any records related to pipeline infrastructure with the Turnpike Authority. This request is denied. The Turnpike is a separate entity and subject to OPRA separate from the Township.
4. Mount Laurel MUA’s 6 million GPD water capacity recordings, including surplus usage, storage as 41 Elbo Lane (e.g. ASR well data) and any sales or transfers.
Response – the Township does not maintain MUA records. This request is denied.
5. Contract, correspondence, or invoices between Mount Laurel Township, the Mount Laurel MUA, New Jersey American Water (1000 Bishops Gate Blvd), the NJ Turnpike Authority, ProForward, incorporated regarding water storage, transfer or sale at or near 10 and 41 Elbo Lane.
Response – the Township does not maintain such records. This request is denied.
6. Any logistics records (e.g. delivery logs, truck schedules) for ProForward, Incorporated at 10 or 41 Elbo Lane, including dates, times and materials (e.g. basins, pipes, water).
Response – the Township does not maintain such records. This request is denied.
7. Any logistics contract with ProForward, Incorporated for equipment or materials at 10 or 41 Elbo Lane related to basins, water or pipeline projects.
Response – the Township does not maintain such records. This request is denied.
Third Request:
1. Stormwater Management Plans: copies of the current and any prior Municipal Stormwater Management Plans as required under N.J.A.C. 7:8, including any amendment or updates.
Response – the Township Engineer maintains most stormwater documents for the Township. The amount of potential documents is voluminous and could require hundreds of hours to copy or scan all such records. Please provide clarity for a specific location and the Township will re-evaluate this request.
2. Stormwater Control Ordinances: All records related to Chapter 134: Stormwater Control, including Ordinance No 2021-9 and any subsequent amendments, as adopted by the Township Council.
Response - See #1 above.
3. Deed Notices for Stormwater Measures: copies of deed notices filed with the Burlington County Clerk for stormwater management measures, as required under 134-10 of the township’s stormwater control ordinance, including descriptions and location of measures.
Response – See #1 above.
4. Maintenance Guarantees: Records of maintenance guarantees posted for private site improvements (e.g. stormwater management basins, inflow/outflow structures) as per N.J.S.A. 40:55D-53(b), including amounts, terms, and status of guarantees.
Response – The Municipal Clerk’s office possesses maintenance guarantees for projects. Please identify which property and the Township will determine if a maintenance bond exists.
5. Inspection and Approval records: Reports, correspondences or documentation from the Municipal Engineer or Department of Public Works related to inspections and final approvals of stormwater management systems for major developments, as defined in 134.
Response – See #1 above.
6. Outfall Map: The most recent stormwater outfall map maintained by the Township, as referenced on the Township website.
Response – See #1 above.
7. Environmental Commission Records: Any studies, recommendations, or reports from the Mount Laurel Environmental Commission related to stormwater management or water resources, as per their authority under N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1 et seq.
Response – the Environmental Commission has not prepared such studies to date. Therefore this request is denied.
8. NJPDES Permit Compliance: Records related to compliance the New Jersey Pollution Discharge Elimination System Tier A Municipal Stormwater General Permit (NJ 0141852) including monitoring reports, illicit discharge investigations and corrective actions.
Response – See #1 above. For example, there is binder for one year of investigations for illicit discharge investigations that is over 500 pages. (None were found to be illicit discharges after investigation. Therefore, you request would require significant refinement to identify specific records.
Fourth Request:
1. Copies of correspondence – whether in email, letter, memo or other written form – containing both of the following terms: “Brian” “Schroeder” from January 1, 2021 to May 20, 2025.
Response – responsive documents attached.
Fifth Request:
1. Copies of records that document how the public was notified of the most recent MUA annual meeting.
a. A copy of the public meeting notice as submitted to the official newspaper.
b. Proof of publication in the newspaper
c. Screenshot of the notice posted on the Township’s or MUA’s official website.
d. A copy of the notice as physically posted at the municipal building or other public locations.
Response – for a, b, and c, the Township does not maintain records. For d, the notice continues to hang on the bulletin board at the municipal building and a copy is attached.
Sixth Request
1. Copies of all stormwater management inspection reports from the past five (5) years.
Response – Denied as overboard. As noted in Request 3, the engineer maintains thousands of pages of stormwater management inspection reports.
2. Copies of all contracts regarding stormwater management.
Response – the township engineer handle stormwater management through its general appointment and without a specific contract. No responsive document exists.
This completes your outstanding OPRA request.
Thank you,
Meredith Riculfy, RMC/CMFO/CMR/QPA
Township Manager/Clerk
750 Centerton Road
Mount Laurel NJ 08054
856.234.0001 ext 1233
856.234.8240 fax