The Municipal Authority of the Township of Robinson is looking to obtain easements on nearly two dozen pieces of property needed for a water line replacement project.
The authority Board of Directors last week authorized the commencement of eminent domain proceedings to acquire the easements needed to replace a 16-inch transmission line that experienced a major break last summer.
The line slated for replacement is located in a wooded area behind The Mall at Robinson. The same line experienced a break last summer that resulted in a boil water notice for authority customers.
The break caused the authority’s water storage tanks to deplete, leading to the potential loss of water pressure, and that prompted the boil water notice. The notice was in effect for parts of five days.
Stan Celich, an authority board member, said the transmission line – considered a main artery in the water distribution system – had been scheduled to be replaced. But last August’s episode prompted officials to move it up on the priority list.
“When that happened and our workers saw the condition of the line, we said that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later,” Celich said.
Celich said even though repairs were made last summer, it was determined that a complete line replacement was needed. The new line won’t be located in the same place that the existing line is located, hence the need to acquire property for the easements.
Celich said the new 1,600-foot line would run through property owned by 21 different owners.
In addition to authorizing the start of eminent domain proceedings, the authority board also authorized the authority solicitor to obtain title searches on all properties affected by the replacement project.
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