Pompton Lakes honors MUA superintendent John Wegley; utility leaders outline PFAS and treatment plans and wastewater limits

Pompton Lakes Borough Council honored John Wegley, longtime superintendent of the borough’s Municipal Utilities Authority, at its April 24 meeting and heard detailed updates about water treatment and wastewater capacity from MUA-related presenters.

Mayor Michael Serra read a proclamation recognizing Wegley’s nearly 39 years of service; Wegley accepted thanks from the council and residents. Public speakers and emergency-management staff later praised his leadership and the MUA’s role in emergency response.

Council members and an MUA representative outlined ongoing and upcoming water-quality work: PFAS treatment design work has begun; the MUA purchased property at 279 Ramapo Street to site a treatment system for 1,4-dioxane; and the MUA has posted proposed new water rates on its website ahead of a public hearing scheduled for May 20. The MUA representative said, "These proposed rates are on the website currently," and noted that capital requirements and treatment for emerging contaminants are driving the proposals.

Officials also described a wastewater-treatment capacity analysis completed by the MUA that showed utilization thresholds. They said that once the plant reaches roughly 85% capacity, proposed new connections may require a Treatment Works Approval (TWA) from the New Jersey DEP, which would impose additional review and could constrain the scale of future redevelopment projects in town.

Next steps: the MUA will hold a public hearing on proposed rate changes May 20 at 6 p.m., and the borough and MUA will continue to coordinate on treatment-planning and capacity limits as redevelopment proposals move forward.