Town of Philipsburg
Phillipsburg, New Jersey
 |
 |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Summary
Natural Systems Utilities was awarded a long-term operations contract by the Town of Phillipsburg, serving a population of 28,000 residents. This public-private partnership includes full operational responsibility for the Town’s existing 3.5 million gallons per day (MGD) wastewater system, as well as support for its planned expansion to 4.3 MGD.
NSU’s role encompasses comprehensive facility operations, including management support, routine maintenance and repairs, sludge handling and disposal, and all regulatory wastewater analysis required under NJDEP permits. This partnership reflects NSU’s commitment to helping municipalities manage growing infrastructure needs through reliable, compliant, and cost-effective solutions.
Challenge
The Town of Phillipsburg faced the complex challenge of reliably serving approximately 28,000 residents across Phillipsburg, the Borough of Bloomsbury, and the surrounding townships of Alpha, Greenwich, Lopatcong, and Pohatcong. With growing demand and aging infrastructure, the Town needed a partner capable of not only operating the existing wastewater system but also providing expert guidance on system improvements—and seamlessly managing operations as capacity expanded to meet future community needs.
Solution
Natural Systems Utilities deployed a highly skilled team of operators dedicated to meeting the needs of the client, community, and regulators alike. With a strong focus on delivering exceptional system reliability while reducing operational costs, NSU seamlessly assumed full responsibility for all wastewater systems serving the Town.
Leveraging our deep expertise, NSU expertly manages the Town’s unique Intermittent Cycle Extended Aeration System (ICEAS)—a hybrid between a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) and extended aeration treatment process. Notably, this advanced system operates efficiently without requiring influent flow control, showcasing NSU’s ability to adapt and optimize complex, cutting-edge infrastructure for consistent, cost-effective performance.
Highlights
-
Pioneered one of the first buildings approved to use recycled water for laundry operations
-
Seamlessly integrated existing staff into the new operations framework
-
Successfully expanded system capacity from 3.4 MGD to 4.3 MGD to meet growing community demand
Achievements
In close collaboration with the Town, Natural Systems Utilities developed targeted capital improvement recommendations aimed at enhancing system efficiency, reducing operational costs, and maintaining safe, reliable service. NSU successfully retained the existing utility staff—preserving institutional knowledge—while also creating new local employment opportunities by hiring additional team members from within the community.
Since assuming lead operational responsibilities, NSU has delivered approximately $200,000 in annual savings, demonstrating the value of a well-managed, community-focused partnership.
