Cape May Court House, N.J. – As construction nears for the Del Haven water supply project, Middle Township is seeking ways to assist residents with one-time connection costs.

A partnership between Middle and the Lower Township Municipal Utilities Authority will bring fresh water to the bayfront community of Del Haven, whose residents currently use well water.

The water connection will be available to 953 properties, the vast majority of which are residential. Property owners are responsible for paying for their plumbing hookup, as well as the MUA installation fee. The $1,600 fee can be paid interest-free over three years.

Middle Township is actively pursuing additional options to make the costs as manageable as possible.

At its March 23 meeting, the Township Committee will authorize an application to the Innovative Development Fund through the state Department of Community Affairs Small Cities Community Block Grant Program.

The fund is available to local governments to support innovative projects, including initiatives that provide cost-savings measures and efficiencies for the community. The Township secured similar grants for the Whitesboro water and sewer projects in the early 2000s. If Middle receives funding, it will be divided among Del Haven property owners to help cover their plumbing costs.

“We also are aggressively pursuing every possible grant that could offset the costs for low- and moderate-income residents,” said Mayor Tim Donohue. “That’s part of our overall objective to give Del Haven residents access to the same service as the rest of the Township.”

Work is underway on hydrants for Del Haven, and construction on the piping to connect to the residential lines will start in June. Contractors will complete a section at a time over the course of a year. Residents will have up to a year from the time of completion to connect to the fresh water supply.

PROJECT ROAD CLOSURE

The installation of a water main for the Del Haven project will require the closure of Bayshore Road (between Middle Township and Lower Township) for approximately two weeks, tentatively beginning April 4.

The road will remain closed 24 hours a day throughout the two-week period, as the equipment used to drill the tunnel cannot be moved once in position.