February 2016 Newsletter
PHOTO OF THE MONTH
Earlier this month, Suez hosted U.S. Sens. Cory Booker and Bob Menendez and Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (NJ-09) as they announced plans to encourage private investment in water infrastructure. 

With Flint in Mind, New Jersey Leaders Promote Water Infrastructure Investments  by Bob Iacullo, Suez, executive vice president 
PARTNER HIGHLIGHTS

Green Infrastructure Taking Off in Paterson

Through it coordinating efforts, Paterson SMART is helping its member organizations advance multiple green-infrastructure projects in the Silk City.

“By partnering with stakeholders on the Passaic County Green Street Demonstration Project the county has been able to understand how the community uses these streets, allowing us to design a safer and more environmentally friendly corridor,” -- Jason Simmons, Senior Environmental Planner, Passaic County

New York-New Jersey Harbor & Estuary Program Seeks Green Infrastructure Planning Support

The New York-New Jersey Harbor & Estuary Program has issued a request for proposals to document the benefits of green infrastructure and to model their likely contributions to resolving combined sewer overflows in the City of Perth Amboy. Proposals are due March 24, 2016. See Full RFP
JERSEY WATER WORKS UPDATE

In early February, the steering committee convened and approved the addition of Chris Obropta from the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program as a new member.

The Jersey Water Works committees will be meeting throughout March to prioritize the actions on which they want to focus this year, refine ways to measure progress, and get started on getting the work done. 

Become a member! Jersey Water Works welcomes individuals and organizations committed to working towards transforming New Jersey’s inadequate water infrastructure through sustainable, cost-effective solutions that provide communities multiple benefits.
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS 

New Poll Finds 95 Percent of Americans Want Public Officials to Invest in Water Systems, 60 Percent Are Willing to Pay More for Secure Water Service (Value of Water). The Value of Water Coalition released the results of a new national poll on public attitudes and concerns about water. 

Commentary: New Jersey must avoid Flint-like crisis (Courier-Post) . Assemblyman Troy Singleton refers to Jersey Water Works and Ripple Effects to discuss a turning point in investing in water infrastructure and the elimination of combined sewer overflows in New Jersey.

DC Water and the Water Environment Federation Launch Development of a National Green Infrastructure Certification Program (WEF.org) . DC Water and the Water Environment Federation have signed an agreement to develop a national green infrastructure certification program to promote skilled individuals who will install, inspect, and maintain green infrastructure systems.

Louis Berger develops New Jersey A.I.M.S4 program to manage aging water infrastructure in New Jersey Louis Berger promotes partnerships with Jersey Water Works members and the publication of New Jersey A.I.M.S.4 , a set of innovative tools to manage sewer and stormwater infrastructure while improving the environment, economy and quality of life.

What 2,000-Year-Old Infrastructure Tells Us About Urban Planning (Next City) . While ancient Rome’s water infrastructure was a marvel for its time, excavations show a water system riddled with disease and pollution. What will our water infrastructure system show about our water quality and health to biological anthropologists of the post-apocalypse?

REGULATORY UPDATE 

NJDEP Preliminary Draft MS4 Stormwater Permit Out for Comment
The preliminary draft permit for Tier A municipalities provides an opportunity to comment and the ability for the department to consider and work to resolve issues prior to the issuance of a formal draft permit. Detailed information about the department’s municipal stormwater regulation program, including the pre-draft permit and frequently asked questions, is now available here. 
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

New York-New Jersey Harbor & Estuary Program RFP seeking hosts for public workshops : Workshops will inform HEP's five-year Action Agenda. Up to $1,000 is available for each of the anticipated 10 to 20 sessions. Proposals are due March 15, 2016. 

Delaware River Restoration Fund: 2016 Request for Proposals : Matching grants of $50,000 to $500,000 each are available to improve waters that contribute to the health of the Delaware River. Proposals are due March 29, 2016.

UPCOMING EVENTS
HIGHLIGHTED UPCOMING EVENT: 

New Jersey Future Redevelopment Forum, Mar. 11, 2016.

Learn the latest trends and techniques to advance redevelopment, including three sessions focused on water infrastructure: 

Rebuilding Infrastructure, One Redevelopment Project at a Time :  This session will explore a variety of creative agreements to upgrade water infrastructure and advance redevelopment projects, from the perspectives of a city manager, city planner, and developer. 

The Triple-Bottom-Line Beauty of Green Infrastructure :  Panelists will present case studies and professional perspectives that shed light on costs and benefits, how to manage innovation risk and how to add social and economic value to the stormwater-management value of green infrastructure.

Accelerating the Use of Green Bonds in New Jersey: The Business Case for Resiliency Investments:  This special roundtable discussion will explore how green bonds, which have been used successfully for years in the green building arena, can be a means of generating a substantial portion of the investment needed to fund resiliency efforts and infrastructure upgrades in New Jersey. Jersey Water Works’ Finance Committee co-chairmen Christopher Daggett, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and David Zimmer, New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust will lead the discussion.

Spring Utility Management Conference , March 8-9, 2016. Debbie Mans, executive director of NY/NJ Baykeeper and a Jersey Water Works steering committee member, will present on engaging communities in water infrastructure management and investment. Hosted by the Association of Environmental Authorities.

The 2016 Watershed Congress , March 12, 2016. Understand, protect and restore local streams by melding science, policy, and practical applications. Hosted by the Watershed Congress along the Schuylkill River.

Paterson Community Open House , March 21, 2016. Learn about Passaic County’s plans to add green infrastructure from Straight Street to North Second Street to help reduce flooding and increase safety. Hosted by Paterson Habitat for Humanity.

New Jersey Clean Water Council 2016 Annual Hearing , April 12, 2016. NJCWC seeks public testimony on the Preliminary Draft Renewal of the municipal stormwater permit.

Good Jobs Green Jobs Conference , June 6, 2016. Explore ways to reap the potential economic benefits of climate change solutions at this Cleveland, Ohio, event.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Environmental Justice Organizer , Ironbound Community Corporation

Resource Specialist , Upper Delaware Council. Feb. 29 deadline.

Volunteer Coordinator, TreeVitalize Partnership . Feb. 29 deadline. Contact Rachel Reyna, 717-783-0385, for more information.

RESOURCES

How To: Stormwater Credit Trading Programs : The National Resources Defense Council has created an issue brief highlighting the benefits of stormwater credit trading programs. Benefits include flexibility in cities' on-site stormwater retention rules for private land as well as tapping into green infrastructure potential.

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Stormwater Index : Updates to NJDEP’s stormwater index include four chapters devoted to structural stormwater management best management practices.

Swimmable Cities: Lessons for Baltimore from Five Cities that Have Cleaned Up Their Rivers, Lakes and Estuaries : The study by Center for Watershed Protection produced for the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore looks at how Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles, New Orleans and Norfolk, Va., overcame sewer infrastructure problems to make large improvements in the health of their waterways. 

Tapping into Alternative Ways to Fund Innovative and Multi-Purpose Water Projects: A Financing Framework from the Electricity Sector : The report by Water in the West identifies and explores innovative funding that can be used to support the integration of new water infrastructure practices, and technologies.

Jersey Water Works is a collaborative effort working to transform New Jersey's inadequate water infrastructure through sustainable, cost-effective solutions that provide communities with clean water and waterways; healthier, safer neighborhoods; local jobs; flood and climate resilience; and economic growth.

Jersey Water Works welcomes individuals and organizations committed to working towards transforming New Jersey’s inadequate water infrastructure through sustainable, cost-effective solutions that provide communities multiple benefits.