Board of Health Endorses PSE&G Wastewater Plan for Harlingen Substation, Hears Funding and Staffing Updates

Nicholas Mistretta

The Montgomery Township Board of Health on Feb. 11 approved routine monthly reports and minutes, then voted to endorse a New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) application connected to a proposed PSE&G electrical substation project at 151 Trent Place, before hearing updates on public health funding, staffing capacity and departmental improvement efforts.

Consent agenda approved
The board approved its consent agenda in a single motion without removing any items for separate discussion. The consent package included the January 2026 Health Department monthly report, January 2026 communicable disease report, January 2026 animal control reports, and minutes from the board’s Jan. 14, 2026 regular and reorganization meeting.

PSE&G seeks approval for sanitary holding tank at 151 Trent Place
The meeting’s primary business item involved PSE&G’s request for Board of Health endorsement of an NJDEP Treatment Works Approval (TWA) application to install a sanitary sewer holding tank to serve a single bathroom in a proposed control house at a new substation site.

PSE&G representatives told the board the project—referred to as the Harlingen Substation—is intended to reduce load on the existing Sunnymead and Mount Rose substations. A project manager said PSE&G purchased the 151 Trent Place property in September 2025 and plans to submit a site plan application to the township in the coming days. Construction is projected to begin in spring 2027, with an in-service target date of December 2029.

A civil engineer for the project explained that the station would be an unmanned facility visited periodically by maintenance personnel. Because the site lacks public sewer service and was described as having poor soil suitability and a high seasonal water table—conditions that limit traditional septic field options—PSE&G proposed a 1,000-gallon holding tank system. The design includes a grinder pump and a force main conveying wastewater from the control house bathroom to the tank for periodic pump-out by contracted vendors.

Board members asked about how frequently the tank would be emptied and how the system would be monitored. PSE&G said pump-outs would be based on usage, with routine checks as part of regular maintenance visits and a quarterly schedule for inspections. Representatives also said the system includes alarms that trigger at approximately 75% capacity, sending notifications to a central monitoring station.

Board members also raised questions about whether the system sets a precedent for similar installations elsewhere in the township. Board discussion indicated the holding tank request was being considered in the context of a utility infrastructure facility with very low anticipated usage, and not as a general model for broader residential or commercial use.

Resolution endorsed; health officer authorized to execute application
The board then voted to approve Resolution 2026-09, authorizing the health officer to execute the TWA application for the PSE&G project, subject to review and approval by township professionals. The vote was taken by roll call and was approved unanimously by those recorded as voting.

PSE&G representatives indicated they would coordinate with board staff to obtain signed documents needed for the NJDEP submission.

Health officer outlines grant funding and staffing challenges
During health officer comments, Health Officer Devangi Patel reported that the department has been working through “infrastructure” grant funding updates, including budget modifications after receiving additional state allocations. Patel said a significant portion of the funding is expected to offset staff salary and fringe costs, helping reduce the local financial burden for the first portion of the year.

Patel said the department is receiving approximately $168,000 covering the period from January through March 31, with roughly $120,000 expected to be used for personnel-related costs. Additional allocations are anticipated for April through July 31, though Patel said final figures were not yet available and would be reported back to the board at its April meeting.

Patel and board members discussed broader challenges in public health staffing, including the difficulty of recruiting and retaining credentialed professionals when funding is structured as short-term, annual grants. Patel said multi-year funding would better support workforce stability, but noted that the department is structured to minimize operational disruption if grant funding fluctuates.

The board also discussed the department’s planning for major events and emergency preparedness. Patel noted that state-level planning is still developing for large-scale needs, referencing the potential impacts of major events such as the FIFA World Cup and the possibility of mutual aid requests among health departments.

Photo Credit: Nicholas Mistretta/headlinenewsmontgomery.com