Government

Brick to Install Next Tranche of Anti-Flood Valves to Prevent Neighborhood Flooding

by
Daniel Nee
April 15, 2022

Flapper valves installed at M Street in Seaside Park. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

Brick Township officials are pleased with the performance of flood control valves that were introduced as part of a pilot program to help control flooding in several neighborhoods, and this week solicited bids to install the next tranche of equipment on additional streets.

The valves are designed to prevent bay water from backing up through storm drains at high tide and flooding local streets, a major problem in some of Brick’s waterfront neighborhoods. The valves are physically installed on the outer end of the outfall pipes that run from the drains to the bay, and act as a large check valve to prevent bay water from backwashing. The township installed 18 of the devices in 2020 on a number of streets in different neighborhoods with the intent of tracking their performance.

“I can say we are very pleased with the flood control valves,” said Joanne Bergin, the township’s business administrator. “It does make a tremendous difference.”

Flapper valves installed at M Street in Seaside Park. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

The township’s engineering staff has noted where the valves perform best, generally due to the geography of the surrounding neighborhood. While the valves have been proven effective, officials have always pointed out that they are a single component of what must be a multi-layer approach to flood control, including raising streets and hardening infrastructure.

“There are areas below sea level, where the valves help, but street flooding still occurs,” said Bergin. “We recognize that valves can’t resolve that, but we are happy that they’re helping. In some areas, they do the trick!”

The cost of the next group of valves will be determined once bids are received by officials, however the funding has already been included in the township’s capital budget. Installation will be determined after a vendor is selected and pre-construction meetings are held.

The streets that will receive valves next are: