Bergen County Utilities Authority, New Jersey, 2027-2031 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Alert

In the 2027-2031 CIP, BCUA details plans to spend approximately $306 million on capital projects, down from about $352 million in the 2026-2030 proposed plan, a reduction of about $46 million or 13.0%. The current CIP includes 36 distinct projects, compared to 42 in the prior 2026-2030 proposed CIP, indicating a leaner program with some consolidation and refocusing of investments. All spending in both plans falls under the Water Pollution Control business area, with the new plan emphasizing wastewater treatment, conveyance, and power resilience.

How Did BCUA’s Capital Spending Change Between the Last Two CIPs?

Table 1 – Bergen County Utilities Authority, NJ: Planned Capital Spending, 2026-2030 Proposed vs. 2027-2031 CIP

Metric	2026-2030 Proposed CIP	2027-2031 CIP	Change
Total CIP Value	$352 million	$306 million	-$46 million (-13.0%)
Distinct Project Count	42 projects	36 projects	-6 projects (-14.3%)
Average Project Value	$8.4 million	$8.5 million	+$0.1 million (+1.2%)

BCUA’s total planned capital spending decreased by about $46 million, from $352 million in the 2026-2030 proposed CIP to $306 million in the 2027-2031 plan, a 13.0% reduction. Over the same period, the distinct project count fell from 42 to 36, a 14.3% decline, suggesting that the authority is pursuing fewer, slightly larger projects on average, with updated priorities and some consolidation of scope.

Which Departments and Business Areas Saw the Largest Changes in BCUA’s CIP?

In both the 2026-2030 proposed CIP and the 2027-2031 CIP, all capital spending is reported under a single business area, Water Pollution Control. The 2026-2030 plan treats this as one aggregated business area, while the 2027-2031 plan provides project-level detail that can be grouped into functional categories within Water Pollution Control.

Table 2 – BCUA CIP Value by Business Area (Water Pollution Control), 2026-2030 Proposed vs. 2027-2031

Business Area	2026-2030 Proposed CIP Value	2027-2031 CIP Value	Change
Water Pollution Control (Total)	$352 million	$306 million	-$46 million

Because both CIPs use a single Water Pollution Control business area, the main change by business area is a reduction in total planned Water Pollution Control spending from $352 million to $306 million. Within that single business area, the newer CIP emphasizes detailed project categories such as wastewater treatment, conveyance, and power transmission, but at the top business-area level the comparison is a straightforward decrease in total Water Pollution Control investment.

What Are the Largest Projects in BCUA’s 2027-2031 CIP?

BCUA’s 2027-2031 CIP is dominated by a handful of large, strategic projects, particularly FEMA-backed investments in power supply and plant-wide improvements. The top five projects by value underscore the authority’s focus on resilience, capacity, and core treatment process upgrades.

• FEMA 9010 Power Supply Mitigation – $116 million – Power Transmission – Addresses power supply resilience through FEMA 90/10 funding for mitigation of critical power infrastructure.
• FEMA 9010 Plant-wide Improvements – $98 million – Wastewater Treatment – Plant-wide improvements funded through the FEMA 90/10 grant program to enhance reliability and performance.
• Northern Valley Force Main Replacement/Relief Sewer – $29 million – Wastewater Conveyance – Replacement of a major force main and construction of a relief sewer to improve capacity and reduce risk.
• Batteries A, B, C and D Aeration Tank Improvements – $20 million – Wastewater Treatment – Improvements to four aeration tank batteries at the treatment plant to support process efficiency and compliance.
• Edgewater Pump Station and Diversion – $10 million – Wastewater Conveyance – Pump station improvements and diversion construction to strengthen conveyance system performance.

Several additional projects are tied at $10 million each, including PST Mechanical and Tank Rehab, Primary Settling Tank 1-4 Improvement, and Sludge Digester Improvements, further reinforcing the focus on core treatment process reliability and capacity. Together, the two largest FEMA-funded projects alone account for $214 million of the plan, making them central to BCUA’s mid-term capital strategy and a major source of opportunity for firms with FEMA and resilience experience.

What Projects Were Added or Dropped Between the Two CIPs?

The 2027-2031 CIP introduces new projects while consolidating or removing others from the 2026-2030 proposed plan, resulting in a net reduction of six distinct projects and lower overall spending. With total value down by $46 million and project count dropping from 42 to 36, BCUA appears to be refining and focusing its capital portfolio around key treatment, conveyance, and power resilience priorities. Examples of projects newly added in the 2027-2031 CIP include:

• Blower Controls Upgrade – Enhances process control and energy efficiency for aeration systems.
• Hypo and Bisulfite Tanks for Batteries AB and CD – Chemical storage and feed improvements supporting disinfection and treatment reliability.
• GT Tank Steel Repair GT 3 4 – Structural rehabilitation for specific tanks to extend asset life.
• Primary Settling Tank 1-4 Improvement – Major primary settling tank upgrades, also one of the top-value projects at $10 million.
• Sludge Digester Improvements – Digester system upgrades to improve solids handling and biogas production.
• HVAC at Control Building – Building systems improvements to support plant operations and equipment reliability.

While specific dropped projects from the 2026-2030 proposed plan are not listed here, the overall effect is a smaller portfolio with fewer total projects, more emphasis on FEMA 90/10-funded resilience work, and selective treatment plant modernization. For vendors and service providers, this shift highlights the importance of aligning with BCUA’s updated priorities in energy resilience, process optimization, and lifecycle asset management.

How Is BCUA’s CIP Governed and Approved?

BCUA’s capital plan is developed by authority staff and approved by the Bergen County Utilities Authority Board of Commissioners. As a regional utility authority serving 47 municipalities for wastewater treatment, BCUA uses its CIP process to prioritize multi-year investments in treatment plants, conveyance systems, and supporting infrastructure across its service area. The Board of Commissioners provides oversight and final approval of the CIP, informed by staff recommendations on regulatory requirements, system condition, risk, and available funding, including FEMA grants and other external sources. This governance structure supports coordinated, county-wide planning for water pollution control infrastructure spanning 47 Bergen County municipalities and helps ensure that capital projects align with long-term regional needs.

What Is the History of BCUA and Its Infrastructure Investments?

The Bergen County Utilities Authority is a regional wastewater utility serving 47 municipalities in Bergen County, New Jersey, and providing solid waste management services for all 70 municipalities in the county. BCUA operates two wastewater treatment facilities that together process over 83 million gallons of wastewater per day, discharging treated effluent to the Hackensack River and serving an estimated population of 581,444. Historically, BCUA has invested in cogeneration facilities and an energy master plan to reduce operating costs and its carbon footprint, utilizing biogas-to-energy conversion from the wastewater treatment process. These long-term energy and infrastructure investments complement the current CIP’s focus on power supply mitigation, plant-wide improvements, and ongoing treatment and conveyance upgrades, positioning the authority as a leader in sustainable wastewater and solid waste management in northern New Jersey.

Fun Facts About BCUA

• BCUA provides wastewater services to 47 of Bergen County’s 70 municipalities and solid waste management for all 70 municipalities.
• The authority’s two treatment plants process more than 83 million gallons of wastewater per day, with treated effluent discharged to the Hackensack River.
• BCUA’s cogeneration facility converts biogas from the treatment process into clean energy, significantly reducing its overall carbon footprint.

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