Borough of Essex Fells PFOA Treatment Project Receives NJ Alliance for Action 2025 Distinguished Engineering Award
Date: July 23, 2025
We’re thrilled to announce that the Borough of Essex Fells “PFOA Treatment – Main Facility” project has received a 2025 Distinguished Engineering Award from the New Jersey Alliance for Action! The Borough of Essex Fells along with SCE professionals were honored to accept this Award at the annual breakfast held on July 30th! See below detailed description about the project and site photos/videos! Congratulations again to the Borough and all those involved on this innovative and award-winning project!
Borough of Essex Fells – PFOA Treatment – Main Facility
The Borough of Essex Fells provides water to 758 local customers and supplies neighboring municipalities, including Caldwell, North Caldwell, and Roseland, as well as New Jersey American Water. In 2023, the Borough completed a major PFAS improvement project at its Main Treatment Facility by installing a Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) system to treat water from 13 wells averaging 3,000 gallons per minute.
The new system removes PFAS to non-detect levels and meets all EPA and MCL standards for safe drinking water. The project was funded through the New Jersey Water Bank, securing $1M in principal forgiveness for FY2023.
Suburban Consulting Engineers, Inc. (SCE) led the design and construction oversight, supporting the Borough through a two-phase approach: procurement of GAC units, followed by facility upgrades. The treatment system operates independently of the 13 wells and includes a parallel treatment train to ensure continuous service and meet future demand—without the need for major SCADA upgrades.
Innovative Solution for PFAS Removal:
Each GAC system features three sets of 12-foot diameter pressure filters (6 in total) filled with 40,000 pounds of 8×30 Mesh GAC, operating in a lead-lag configuration to ensure thorough contaminant removal. The design accommodates a maximum flow of 3,000 gallons per minute (gpm), with provisions to increase capacity to 4,000 gpm, highlighting the project’s foresight and scalability.
Strategic Installation:
The new GAC treatment train is strategically located within a newly constructed treatment building, adjacent to the existing water treatment facility. This proximity ensures a seamless integration of processes for optimal performance and efficiency.
Advanced Facility Design:
The PFOA Removal Treatment Building is a robust structure made from Concrete Masonry Units (CMU), spans 3,825 square feet. It houses a wet well, three (3) high-capacity vertical turbine pumps, pre-treatment bag filters, three GAC systems, and two (2) tablet chlorinators for chlorination, along with essential process piping and appurtenances.
Project Spotlight Video:
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