February 13 is the deadline for the public to submit written comments to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) draft 5-year Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) implementation plan (“CSO permit”) for the Town of Guttenberg and North Bergen Municipal Utilities Authority in Hudson County.

Please take this opportunity to let the NJDEP, the Town of Guttenberg, and the North Bergen Municipal Utilities Authority know that reducing polluted sewage overflows into the Hudson River and sewage back-ups into streets and homes must be done effectively, quickly, equitably, and affordably, in compliance with the highest standards and strictest requirements.

“The issue of combined sewer overflows presents an immediate and long-term danger to the safety and health of New Jerseyans in 21 impacted communities or an estimated 1.6 million people,” said New Jersey Future Policy Director Diane Schrauth. “As we anticipate increased flooding in the decades ahead, it is imperative that we shield at-risk communities from harmful waste flooding our streets, streams, and rivers.”

We hope the changes that we recommend now will positively influence the plans that will be released for the other NJ combined sewer system communities this year. Please join the effort and share your input with NJDEP by Monday, February 13!

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Do you need help formulating your comments? Please email Suzanne Aptman, Program Manager, at saptman@njfuture.org.

On January 18, community organizations and community members gathered virtually to prepare for the January 23 NJDEP virtual hearing on the recently released Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) plan and permit for the Town of Guttenberg and the North Bergen Municipal Utilities Authority in Hudson County. This workshop/community meeting was an opportunity to learn about CSOs, the CSO permitting process, and discuss best practices for advocacy.

Grassroots organizations from Guttenberg and North Bergen championed several outreach initiatives contributing to close to 60 community members and organizations attending the NJDEP hearings to voice their concerns and recommendations.

Thanks to the Sewage-Free Streets and Rivers Advisory Board and partner organizations, the Jersey Water Works CSO Committee, and New Jersey Future backbone staff for making this learning and organizing meeting a success. More to come in 2023!

In every newsletter, we take the opportunity to highlight the amazing organizations that are part of the Kresge Foundation’s wonderful Climate Resilient and Equitable Water Systems (CREWS) program. In this newsletter we highlight the work of the Environmental Policy Innovation Center (EPIC). Their mission is to “build policies that deliver spectacular improvements in the speed of environmental progress.”

EPIC’s latest contribution in the water infrastructure space is their recent commitment to support 50 overburdened communities across the country in their lead service line replacement efforts over the next three years. Given the critical nature of the lead issue in the United States, EPIC’s work in this space is much needed!

Urge Governor Murphy to work with the State Legislature to invest an additional $700 million over the next year in clean water. Click here to send an email today. We need more funding to replace lead service lines, upgrade our stormwater systems, and remove harmful “forever chemicals” from our drinking water supply.

Apply to the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program here for help paying your water and wastewater bills if your household is low or medium income eligible. For help, contact NJ Department of Community Affairs:

Learn about the NJDEP Winter Termination Program that can prevent service discontinuation for eligible residential customers.