GLOUCESTER COUNTY, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — Communities near the Delaware River in Gloucester County have long been plagued by poor drainage, leading to a higher water table and a terrible mosquito problem. A bill in Trenton aims to fix the issues.
The tributaries and runoff management systems in Greenwich Township and other nearby communities are mostly clogged up. Assemblywoman Beth Sawyer says these have been neglected and mismanaged for decades, leading to ponding all over the place, which then leads to mosquito infestations.
“This is something that has been very concerning for the residents. I’m just shocked that it hasn’t been addressed in so many years. This has been ongoing since the ‘70s,” she said.
“I have driven through Greenwich Township after many rainfalls and was really shocked by the amount of stagnant water that is all throughout the town because of these ditches not being dredged properly.”
Some of them are supposed to be up to eight feet deep but overgrowth has reduced that to a foot or two in some places.
Carmen Zampglione says the mosquitoes are so bad in the summer that he and his neighbors can’t really spend time outside.
“And it’s become a major health issue, and flooding also. And now our grounds are getting saturated and the flood plain is probably expanding,” Zampglione said.
The bill would provide state funding to help several small towns spray for mosquitoes and clear the way so runoff can flow freely into the Delaware River. Sawyer expects it to be up for a full vote in January.