Veolia has completed a $58 million overhaul of the Princeton Meadows Wastewater Treatment Facility, replacing a 55-year-old plant with modern infrastructure designed to withstand extreme weather, improve wastewater treatment and strengthen long-term water sustainability.

 

The company marked the completion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 7, unveiling a facility equipped with advanced ultraviolet disinfection technology, high-efficiency biological treatment and energy-efficient systems. The plant serves approximately 11,000 residents and businesses.

 

A key feature of the project is its focus on climate resilience. The new facility has been built on higher ground, outside the original 100-year floodplain, to reduce the risk of flooding and protect critical infrastructure against extreme weather.

 

"This next-generation facility exemplifies Veolia's commitment to environmental security, public health and sustainable infrastructure," said Nadege Petit, CEO of Veolia in North America. 

 

"It combines significant capital investment, advanced treatment technology and climate-resilient design to provide reliable service to the community for decades to come, while continuing our longstanding commitment to water reuse. This milestone marks the latest chapter in more than five decades of work at the site and reaffirms our commitment to applying our expertise to address challenges more effectively, in collaboration with local stakeholders."

 

Beyond modernising wastewater treatment, the project builds on a long-running water conservation effort at the site. Since 1971, the facility has supplied Middlesex County with 1.4 billion gallons of reclaimed water for irrigation at a county golf course.

 

The plant treats 475 million gallons of wastewater and reuses 32 million gallons of reclaimed water annually — equivalent to 48 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

 

The investment replaces ageing infrastructure that had served the community for more than half a century but faced growing concerns over its vulnerable location and the need to meet evolving environmental standards.

 

"The original Princeton Meadows facility served the community well for more than five decades, but it was aging and located in a vulnerable floodplain," said Kendra Morris, CEO of Veolia Regulated Water in North America. 

 

"Rather than simply upgrade the existing plant, we reimagined it. This facility is designed to meet today's needs, anticipate future environmental requirements and preserve our commitment to water reuse. Investing in infrastructure also means investing in the community."

 

The Princeton Meadows project forms part of Veolia's wider infrastructure investment programme in New Jersey. Through its GreenUp programme, the company invests more than $150 million annually across the state to improve water quality, strengthen service reliability and advance environmental sustainability for the 1.1 million customers it serves.