Millions For Water Upgrades As Sayreville Battles Morgan Sewer Collapse

SAYREVILLE, NJ — Sayreville expects to receive approximately $4 million to $5 million from litigation involving PFAS contamination, with the money designated for improvements to the borough’s drinking water treatment facility.

The announcement came as officials also discussed an immediate infrastructure problem: a deteriorating force main sewer line in the Morgan section that is expected to require weeks of emergency repairs.

Officials provided updates on both matters during the Borough Council’s Sept. 14 meeting.

Settlement Money Earmarked For Water Treatment

Councilwoman Mary Novak asked for an update on litigation involving PFAS, a group of synthetic chemicals sometimes called “forever chemicals” because they break down slowly in the environment.

Chief Financial Officer Danielle Maiorana estimated Sayreville’s recovery at “in the ballpark of between four and $5 million.” She said the money is being distributed according to a court-approved payment schedule.

The litigation, handled on the borough’s behalf by the Keith and Keith law firm, targeted manufacturers of PFAS chemicals, which have been used in products including nonstick cookware and Teflon.

Business Administrator Glenn Skarzynski said the settlement money cannot be spent for general borough purposes.

“That money is sitting in a separate line item dedicated to making improvements to our water treatment facility,” Skarzynski said.

Skarzynski said Sayreville’s drinking water currently meets PFAS guidelines, but the settlement will allow the borough to make additional treatment improvements.

“Currently, our water is within the guidelines for PFAS, but by virtue of employing this money, we’ll be able to eradicate more of it and get that level lower,” Skarzynski said.

Officials also said the borough is preparing additional legal action concerning another chemical contaminant detected in local water sources. The substance and potential financial impact of that action were not identified during the discussion.

Underground Pipe Failure Disrupts Morgan

While the settlement is intended to support long-term water-treatment improvements, Sayreville is also responding to a sewer-line failure in Morgan.

Councilman Stanley Synarski, chairman of the council’s Water and Sewer Committee, said the problem is affecting the area around Willow Street, Morgan Avenue and South Street.

The damaged line is a force main, which moves wastewater under pressure toward a Middlesex County Utilities Authority interceptor. Synarski said hydrogen sulfide gas can accumulate in elevated portions of the pipe and corrode it internally.

“Most of the pipe is full 90 percent of the time because it’s a force main,” Synarski said. “But when it crests hills and stuff like that, sewer gas is created called hydrogen sulfide. The hydrogen sulfide eats the pipes out from the inside.”

Because the deterioration occurred inside the pipe, the damage was not visible from the surface before the line began collapsing, according to Synarski.

“We do have this issue right now in Morgan, where the pipe is collapsing and broken,” he said.

Emergency crews and specialized contractors were brought in to address the failure. Officials said the work was expected to create neighborhood disruptions for approximately three weeks.

Sewer Rates Under Review

The council also discussed a revenue shortfall in sewer-fee collections from the previous fiscal year.

After Novak questioned the gap, Skarzynski said administrators and financial officials were reviewing the borough’s water and sewer rate structures. A joint discussion with the council’s Administration and Finance Committee is planned as officials consider whether longer-term changes are necessary.

No new rate or fee increase was approved during the discussion.

What The Pipeline Resolution Means

The council separately approved Resolution 2026-225, allowing Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Co. LLC to apply to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for a Treatment Works Approval.

Borough Engineer Jay Cornell and Borough Attorney Joseph Sordillo said the resolution does not represent council approval of gas-pipeline construction.

Instead, they said, the consent allows the company to seek state permission to discharge groundwater into Sayreville’s municipal system. The groundwater would be pumped during excavation to temporarily lower the water table around the work area.

Pump Station Projects Move Forward

The council also authorized the use of federal Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery funding for reconstruction and upgrades at the Melrose Pump Station.

In a separate action, the council approved an $88,848.20