NEWARK
, Dec. 7 -- Today at the
Jersey Water Works annual conference
, 42 organizational members of the collaborative offered a response to the crisis of New Jersey's failing water infrastructure by committing publicly to take significant actions in 2019. These actions, ranging from new investments in water systems to innovative educational campaigns, offer a scope and breadth of initiatives that have not been attempted in New Jersey.
"The sheer variety of these commitments is an exciting example of the type of innovation that is happening here in New Jersey around water infrastructure. It takes all of us, with all our areas of expertise, to tackle a problem as complex as this," said Mark Mauriello, director of environmental affairs and planning at Edgewood Properties and a co-chair of the Jersey Water Works Steering Committee. "At the end of 2019, the individuals and organizations who are committing today to these actions will have made a material difference to how well our water systems work, and in doing so will have contributed to the quality of life of virtually every New Jerseyan."
"Our collaborative members are not ones to lead from behind; they are stepping up in very meaningful ways to improve our water systems and show true leadership," said Jane Kenny, managing partner at Whitman Strategy Group and the Steering Committee's co-chair. "It's inspiring to see so many members voluntarily taking yet another step toward our goal of improving the state's water infrastructure, and it shows once again that a united, committed group of people like the Jersey Water Works collaborative can accomplish great things."
Among the organizations committing to action are the Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority, which has committed to reaching complete energy independence by 2020; the Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership, which, in partnership with CoLab Arts and Rutgers Cooperative Extension, has committed to installing a sculpture and interpretive signage
along the Raritan River, crowdsourcing photos to tell the story of changes, including litter, invasive plants, and high water levels, and to plan restoration actions accordingly; and the Association of Environmental Authorities, which has committed to promoting jobs in the water sector through education, training and outreach.
Members also committed to investment of more than $375 million in upgrades to water and sewer mains and treatment plants; to installing acres of parks and plantings that will increase stormwater absorption and reduce flooding; to implementing a range of water affordability measures; and to providing multiple educational resources to help the public understand the importance of investing in water infrastructure.
The full list of commitments and the organizations behind them is available below.
Earlier at the conference, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Catherine McCabe reassured attendees that water was one of the department's top priorities, and that they were working on ways to address the challenges of funding infrastructure upgrades and to provide support for the development of robust asset management plans. She said they were paying particular attention to the problem of PFAS chemicals and were working to develop a framework to address this problem that she hopes will become a national model.
Conference keynote speaker Manny Teodoro, Ph.D., an expert on the topic of water affordability, praised New Jersey's Water Quality Accountability Act, which he said will serve as a crucial national model. When the data the act requires is collected, he said, "we will know the full nexus of the relationship between cost, affordability, water quality, system performance, environmental quality and capital investment. We will be able to quantify the health and economic benefits of investment in water."
 Jersey Water Works Commitments for 2019
Jersey Water Works members are proud to announce more than three dozen commitments - actions they will take to transform New Jersey's water infrastructure. The commitments represent new projects, initiatives, and activities that members plan to undertake in 2019.
ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSIONS
Perform Outreach and Install Green Infrastructure in the Upper Salem Watershed
ANJEC will focus on treating stormwater by applying green infrastructure practices where stormwater has never been treated to make measurable improvements in water quality.
ATLANTIC COUNTY UTILITIES AUTHORITY
Upgrade Bar Screens at Wastewater Treatment Facility
ACUA will complete bar screen installations, optimizing efficiency, infrastructure lifespan, and employee safety at its wastewater treatment facility.
CAMDEN COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITIES AUTHORITY
Advance Utility Energy Independence to Protect, Enhance Resiliency
CCMUA commits to being off the electric grid and being energy independent by 2020, reducing vulnerability to power outages and combined sewage flooding resulting from a loss of service.
CITY OF ELIZABETH
Complete the Trumbull Street Stormwater Control Project
The city commits to completing the project, which consists of land acquisition, and installation of green and gray stormwater management infrastructure, and educational signage to beautify the neighborhood.
CITY OF HOBOKEN
Break Ground on the Northwest Resiliency Park
The city, in partnership with the North Hudson Sewerage Authority, commits to breaking ground on the park. When completed, the park will reduce combined sewage flooding through green and gray infrastructure as a key component of the NHSA Long Term Control Plan.
LANDIS SEWERAGE AUTHORITY
Invest $23 Million in Infrastructure
LSA will invest in upgrades to its wastewater treatment plant infrastructure and biosolids application farm with a goal of providing sufficient capacity and infrastructure to serve its sewershed until 2040.
LINDEN ROSELLE SEWERAGE AUTHORITY
Implement a Flood Mitigation Project
LRSA is committed to a $4.6 million project to increase the treatment plant's resilience during future storm events by "hardening" 14 targeted areas of infrastructure.
LOWER RARITAN WATERSHED PARTNERSHIP; COLAB ARTS; RUTGERS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION
Connect Residents to the River through Arts, Storytelling, and Signage
LRWP, coLAB Arts and RCE will install a sculpture and interpretive signage along the Raritan River, crowdsourcing photos to tell the story of changes, including litter, invasive plants, and high water levels, and to plan restoration actions accordingly.
MANTUA TOWNSHIP MUNICIPAL UTILITIES AUTHORITY
Expand Sewershed and Upgrade Infrastructure
MTMUA plans to expand its sewershed and rehabilitate an older sewer pump station, alleviating the impacts of currently failing septic systems while providing residents with the benefits of community sewer.
MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY
Invest $52 Million in the Water for Tomorrow Initiative's Western Transmission Main Project
MWC will construct a 4.5-mile large-diameter water pipeline from Edison Township to the Borough of Metuchen and work with local officials to minimize disruptions to local residents.
NATURE CONSERVANCY OF NEW JERSEY
Advance Restoration of Paulinskill Floodplain Forests and Functions
TNC of NJ will plant and maintain green infrastructure on at least 10 acres of deforested floodplain and on more than 100 acres of floodplain previously planted.
NEW JERSEY AMERICAN WATER
Invest More than $300 Million on System Upgrades and Expansion
NEW JERSEY INFRASTRUCTURE BANK
Provide Technical Assistance to Municipal Applicant and Cover Experience through Blog Series
The I-Bank will provide technical assistance for a green infrastructure project going through the financing application process and cover the experience through a series of blog posts.
ASSOCIATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORITIES
Promote water sector jobs through education and outreach
ASSOCIATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORITIES
Develop recommendations for wastewater asset management metrics
CENTER FOR NATURAL RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT AND PROTECTION AT THE NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Collaborate with Branch Brook Park in Newark to monitor and improve water quality
CENTER FOR NATURAL RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT AND PROTECTION AT THE NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Support the City of Newark by introducing students to the city's Dept. of Water and Sewer
COOPER'S FERRY PARTNERSHIP and CAMDEN SMART INITIATIVE
Eliminate flooding for up to the 1-inch storm by 2020
CLEAN OCEAN ACTION
Continue strategy to restore the health of Navesink River and regional waterways
CLEAN WATER ACTION and CLEAN WATER FUND
Conduct community outreach in the City of Newark to support the LTCP process
CLEAN WATER ACTION and CLEAN WATER FUND
Support the City of Newark's public education and outreach on lead in drinking water
LINDEN ROSELLE SEWERAGE AUTHORITY
Implement an asset management program
LOUIS BERGER
Provide staff support to establish the JWW measurement system
LOUIS BERGER
Develop a summary fact sheet on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
MANASQUAN RIVER REGIONAL SEWERAGE AUTHORITY
Perform a comprehensive assessment of the authority's regional interceptor system
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CLEAN WATER AGENCIES
Update guidance on water affordability
NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENCE COUNCIL
Advance water and sewer service affordability in New Jersey
NEW JERSEY FUTURE and RUTGERS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION WATER RESOURCES PROGRAM
Identify green infrastructure options in Trenton business district
NEW JERSEY SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS COUNCIL
Educate businesses on role of clean water and water systems in a vibrant economy
NEW JERSEY URBAN MAYORS ASSOCIATION
Host workshop on timely water infrastructure laws or rules
NEW JERSEY WATER SUPPLY AUTHORITY
Develop and implement a cyanotoxin management plan for the Manasquan Water Supply System
NEW YORK-NEW JERSEY HARBOR & ESTUARY PROGRAM
Expand "Stopping Trash Where It Starts" campaign
NORTH JERSEY RESOURCE CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT
Foster farmer engagement for implementation of agricultural best management practices
SOUTH MONMOUTH REGIONAL SEWERAGE AUTHORITY
Develop a force main/outfall pipe condition assessment plan
SUSTAINABLE JERSEY
Advance water action for municipal certification
T&M ASSOCIATES
Advance youth awareness of and education about the water industry
TOGETHER NORTH JERSEY
Partner to promote green streets through a workshop on green infrastructure and transportation
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION 2
Partner with the State of New Jersey to enhance the State Revolving Fund (SRF) and the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation (WIFIA) programs' infrastructure funding options
UTILITY AND TRANSPORTATION CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION
Issue report on the economic impacts of investing $1 billion in water and sewer construction in New Jersey
WATERFRONT ALLIANCE
Develop an action agenda and bi-state campaign for regional resilience
WATERSHED INSTITUTE
Provide capacity-building and technical assistance for volunteer water monitoring groups
WHITMAN STRATEGY GROUP
Publish quarterly website updates on Jersey Water Works progress
|
