Claremont Sewer Project Work Completed

After years of requests, research, preparation and construction, residents in the Claremont section town will be able to hook up to the town’s sewer system.

After receiving approvals from the Hillsborough Municipal Utilities Authority last week, the town’s Municipal Utilities Authority and Town Committee are prepared to approved the sewer hookup for the 191 houses on Ann Street, Millstone River Road, Onka Drive, Craig Drive, Theodora Drive, Franklin Drive, Hamilton Road, Sunnyside Road, and High Acre Drive. The Township Committee introduced an ordinance finalizing the Claremont Sewer Project—which begins the process to make the sewer connections official—at a meeting Wednesday night.

“This is a long time coming,” Mayor Gloria McCauley said. “I’ve been here three years and I believe the journey on this started 25 years ago. I can say we worked really hard here in the past few years to get this moved forward and passed so residents can have their sewers.”

The Municipal Utilities Authority will need to accept the ordinance at its next meeting before it undergoes a final approval from the Township Committee. The public hearing and vote is set for Nov. 22.

The project spanned close to 25 years, having encompassed. The private contracting company completed paving the streets by the end of October, after waiting several weeks for the ground to dry out.

The project used no tax dollars to complete. Instead, the township agreed to bond for the sewer installation, with residents in that area making the bond payments. In addition, it rectifies a change in state laws requiring homes with septic systems to occupy two-acre lots. Many of the houses in the area sit on half-acre lots, and residents expressed health concerns regarding septic systems.

“I think everybody is pleased, flushing with happiness as the case may be,” Committeeman Bob Wagner said. “We’ve talked about it a lot up here, had residents come out. I’m glad to see it’s finally completed.”