NEWARK, Dec. 2 -- Today at the Jersey Water Works annual conference, individual and organizational members of the collaborative committed publicly to more than 30 actions that they intend to take in 2017 to improve the condition of New Jersey's water infrastructure.
Commitments to action include development of an app to allow Camden residents to report neighborhood flooding to both the city and the utility; expedited implementation of a required plan to control sewage overflows, also in Camden; development of Hoboken's first-ever water infrastructure capital improvement plan; Jersey City's pledge to proclaim a "Year of Water" in 2017; and Middlesex Water Company's commitment of $160 million in new investment in water infrastructure in its service areas. Organizations also pledged to install green infrastructure, engage in educational and outreach efforts, and develop research, training, guidance, best-practice programs, innovative financing mechanisms, and technical-assistance offerings that will help expedite the modernization of New Jersey's water infrastructure.
"It's extremely gratifying to see so many organizations, from such a range of industry sectors, step forward in these meaningful and innovative ways to address the crisis in our water infrastructure," said Jane Kenny of Whitman Strategy Group, one of the co-chairs of the collaborative. "These commitments are a testament to the important role our water infrastructure plays in the lives of absolutely everyone in the state, and an example of how many separate actions, taken collectively, can amount to real change."
"These commitments demonstrate how enthusiastically the Jersey Water Works collaborative is mobilizing its more than 260 members to advance its shared goals," said co-chair Mark Mauriello of Edgewood Properties. "It's wonderful to see how strongly such a broad and diverse coalition has united in support of these efforts."
The full list of commitments, along with the organizations making them, appears below. More information about these commitments may be found on the Jersey Water Works website.
Jersey Water Works Member Commitments for 2017
Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority
Expedited Implementation of CSO Long Term Control Plan
The Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority will complete the design and financing of a $50 million component of its long term CSO control plan to eliminate flooding problems along the Camden waterfront. The project includes a green infrastructure program, a new stormwater pumping station and upgrades to the existing combined sewer system and the wastewater treatment plant.
Cooper's Ferry Partnership
Release of Flood Mapping App "Camden Reports"
Camden SMART Partners have committed to enhancing the collaborative's community engagement platforms through the development of Camden Reports, a web-based app that allows residents to report instances of flooding to Camden SMART Partners in real time via their mobile devices or computers. Residents are encouraged to provide a description and upload photographs of the flooding incident, which are sent directly to Camden SMART Partners and to American Water, the city's water utility company, which then identifies a best solution.
City of Hoboken
First Water Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan
The City of Hoboken will develop its first Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for intermediate and longer-term investments in its water distribution system. The CIP will provide a rational planning approach that optimizes the funding required to maintain its drinking-water assets in a state of good repair. The City will evaluate and recommend options for managing Hoboken's water infrastructure and develop a sustainable financial implementation strategy.
City of Jersey City
Jersey City's Year of Water
Jersey City and its Office of Innovation have designated 2017 as "A Year of Water." The Office of Innovation will work with stakeholders to align priorities, promote partnerships, and encourage best practices to support water stewardship.
Middlesex Water Company
$160 Million Capital Investment in Water Infrastructure
Through its "Water for Tomorrow" program, Middlesex Water Company will invest $160 million in water infrastructure in 2017 and 2018 to enhance safety, reliability and resiliency. Projects will include construction of a critical transmission main for backup water supply; new ozonation treatment to meet water quality requirements; several large tanks for additional storage;, additional electric standby generation; and relocation of meters to exterior pits for greater customer convenience and safety.
Association of Environmental Authorities of New Jersey
Piloting a Professional Development Academy and Promoting Asset Management
Association of Environmental Authorities of New Jersey and
Sustainable Jersey
Partnering to Host Training Session to Promote Best Practices
Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions
Empowering Environmental Commissions to Advance Stream Daylighting
Center for Natural Resources Development and Protection at the New Jersey Institute of Technology
Green Infrastructure Installation and Evaluation
Clean Ocean Action
Canine Scent Detection in the Navesink River Watershed and Beyond
Clean Water Action
Green Infrastructure Installations in Newark and Community Action Teams in the South Ward
Environmental Finance Center at Syracuse University
Technical Assistance and Training in New Jersey
Edgewood Properties and
Whitman Strategy Group
Op-Ed to Promote Water Infrastructure Solutions that Provide Multiple Community Benefits
Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation
Formation of Water Infrastructure Funders Affinity Group
City of Hoboken
Bike Tour of Hoboken's Urban Stormwater Management Measures
Louis Berger
Staff Support for the Jersey Water Works Measurement System
National Association of Clean Water Agencies
Environmental Justice and Community Service Compendium
National Association of Clean Water Agencies
Congressional Outreach on Water Rate Affordability and Low Income Community Impacts
The Nature Conservancy
Financing Facility for Green Infrastructure Projects
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Developing Green Infrastructure Guidance
New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust
Issuing Environmental Infrastructure Bonds as "Green Bonds"
New Jersey Future
Going After Green Infrastructure -- New Jersey Future Property, Alley and Block
New Jersey Utilities Association
Op-Ed to Promote Water Infrastructure Investments
NY/NJ Baykeeper
100,000 Oysters to Filter Water and
250 Volunteer Hours to Clean Local Waterways
NY-NJ Harbor & Estuary Program, Hudson River Foundation
Assessing and Communicating the Benefits of Improved Water Quality
Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program
Research Report: Stormwater Utilities as an Economic Driver for New Jersey
Sustainable Jersey
Water Infrastructure Actions Included in Certification Program
Stevens Institute of Technology
Transforming Stevens' Campus into a Living Laboratory
The John S. Watson Institute for Public Policy at Thomas Edison State University
Formation of a Mayors' Water Infrastructure Committee
United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 2
Working with New Jersey and Partners to Improve and Enhance Water Quality
Daniel Van Abs, Associate Professor, Rutgers University
Comparison of State Wastewater Infrastructure Reliability Regulations and
Evaluation of Municipal Master Plans
The Wei
Grassroots Organic Food Coalition
