January 2018
Photo of the Month 
Photo:  The Joint Legislative Task Force on Drinking Water Infrastructure convened on Jan. 8 and voted unanimously to adopt the findings and recommendations in its report. Final report here .

News coverage:
 
The Cost of Inaction
Often overlooked, our water infrastructure isn't noticed until something goes wrong. This section highlights the everyday consequences of not investing in New Jersey's water systems.

Route 18 traffic jammed after water main break closes lane ( Star-Ledger )
Extreme cold causes 15 water main breaks in Westfield in 1 week  ( TAPinto Westfield )
Berkeley residents want water problem fixed quicker ( Jersey Shore Online )
Atlantic City facing 'unprecedented' 12 water main breaks  ( Press of Atlantic City )
Failing water infrastructure a growing trend in New Jersey  ( Press of Atlantic City )
35K customers ordered to boil water after treatment plant malfunction ( Star-Ledger )
4 water main breaks reported in Bayonne in past 24 hours: OEM ( Star-Ledger )
Road closures in South Jersey due to water main breaks ( SNJ Today )
Another water main break in East Brunswick Tuesday morning ( East Brunswick Patch )
West Long Branch water main break shuts down road ( Word on the Shore )


The January 2018 issue of New Jersey Business magazine features a cover story on state actions that bode well for water infrastructure investment . The article highlights a number of Jersey Water Works members from the following organizations:  Middlesex Water Company,  New Jersey American Water,  New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust,  New Jersey Future,  New Jersey Utilities Association,  Rutgers University,  Utility and Transportation Contractors Association.

Member Highlights

The December 2017 issue of  Utility and Transportation Contractor magazine features an article by Steering Committee member  Dan Kennedy, director of environmental and utility operations at the Utility and Transportation Contractors Association . He explains how the Water Quality Accountability Act drives real progress towards revitalizing the state's drinking water systems .


The Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association was honored by the 2017 New Jersey One Water Awards in the nonprofit/academic category for replacing an earlier failed septic system with an  innovative wetland wastewater treatment system at its Watershed Center in Hopewell Township. The natural wastewater solution promotes public education through interpretive signage and an audio tour to explain the wetland to visitors. 

US Water Alliance has synthesized seven big ideas for the sustainable management of water from listening sessions it organized across the country. A policy brief will be issued for each idea and released during a related webinar (see dates below in the events section). The One Water for America Policy Framework offers a set of policy actions that can be implemented today to advance One Water management at the local, regional, state and national levels.


The American Society of Landscape Architects prepared a brochure called Landscape Architects Leading Community Infrastructure Design and Development, that urges policy makers and stakeholders to support a national infrastructure plan that not only addresses today's crumbling infrastructure, but also creates tomorrow's resilient systems.


 Jersey Water Works Updates
(RE)JOIN A COMMITTEE!

IMPORTANT: YOU MUST REJOIN IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE ON A COMMITTEE.  

The Jersey Water Works Steering Committee has updated the JWW goals and streamlined the committee structure to ensure that there is one committee dedicated to advancing each of the four Jersey Water Works goals.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN A NEW COMMITTEE

Asset Management and Finance committee
Education and Outreach committee
Green Infrastructure committee
Combined Sewer Overflow committee
Backbone Staff Update

Please join me in welcoming Ed DiFiglia as the new program manager at New Jersey Future in charge of the JWW collaborative's daily activities. Ed is ably supported by Brian Caycho, JWW program coordinator. Ed replaces Jane Rosenblatt, who played a leadership role in growing and running the collaborative since its inception. Jane has just joined Governor Murphy's Office as a cabinet liaison. We are sad to see her go, but wish her all the best in her new position.
-- Chris Sturm, Managing Director, Policy and Water, New Jersey Future
 
New Resources 

Evaluating Green Infrastructure: A Combined Sewer Overflow Control Alternative for Long Term Control Plans
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has just released a new guidance document, Evaluating Green Infrastructure: A Combined Sewer Overflow Control Alternative for Long Term Control Plans, intended to help combined sewer system permittees to evaluate green infrastructure as part of their Long Term Control Plans. This is a great example of how Jersey Water Works' cross-sector collaboration advances its goals -- in this case, the "Smart CSO Plans" goal of "Balancing Pipes and Parks."

The Joint Legislative Task Force on Drinking Water Infrastructure Final Report
The Drinking Water Infrastructure Task Force's final report was adopted unanimously on Jan. 8, 2018. The task force was charged by the Legislature with studying and making recommendations concerning issues related to drinking water infrastructure in the state. The report includes a number of proposals for legislation and regulatory action. It is a significant achievement for Jersey Water Works members.

Factors Contributing to the Hydrologic Effectiveness of a Rain Garden Network 
U.S. EPA researcher Bill Shuster and his co-authors recently published Factors Contributing to the Hydrologic Effectiveness of a Rain Garden Network (Cincinnati OH USA) .  This paper is one of two included in a special issue of the journal Infrastructures that focuses on green infrastructure.

Mainstreaming Green Streets Policy Paper
The Jersey Water Works Green Infrastructure Committee developed state-level policy recommendations to make green streets a mainstream practice in New Jersey, based on research and discussion with key stakeholders including state agencies.
Job Opportunities

Senior Planner/ Engineer  (American Water)
American Water is seeking a team lead to provide technical expertise and project management supervision. This position is responsible for evaluating water and wastewater systems and recommending system upgrades.

Assistant Planner  (Morris County Office of Planning and Preservation)
The County of Morris is seeking a qualified candidate with understanding and experience in planning and GIS to a ssist in the administration and development of various programs, plans, and initiatives.  
Requests for Proposals

Pisces Foundation Urban Water Strategy (Next deadline: Jan. 29)
As part of the Pisces Foundation Urban Water Strategy , the foundation is funding grants for motivated organizations within communities interested in and in need of assistance moving to a One Water or Integrated Water Management approach to water management. The Pisces Foundation expects to make awards totaling between $500,000 and $600,00 in year one.

Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Program ( Next deadline: Jan. 31)
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Wildlife Habitat Council, in cooperation with federal agencies and FedEx and Southern Company, are accepting applications for the 2018 Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration program . The program provides financial assistance to local partnerships focused on improving water quality, watersheds and the species and habitats they support. The program will award approximately $2 million in grants nationwide.

WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program (Next deadline: Jan. 31)
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation WaterSMART is accepting applications as part of its Cooperative Watershed Management program . The program will fund activities to develop a watershed group, complete watershed restoration planning activities, and design watershed management projects.

Healthy Watershed Consortium Grant Program (Next deadline: Feb. 1)
The U.S. Endowment, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service are accepting applications for the Healthy Watershed Consortium Grant program . The program will award $3 million in grants.

Wave Awards Program  (Next deadline: Feb. 9)
The Association of Environmental Authorities is accepting nominations for the  2018 Wave Awards,  which recognize excellence in the public water, wastewater, recycling, and solid waste sectors in New Jersey.

New Jersey Health Initiatives: Upstream Action Acceleration (Next deadline: Mar. 1)
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is accepting applications as part of the NJHI Upstream Action Acceleration program . The program supports existing cross-sector coalitions to adopt and implement "upstream" strategies and accelerate their work in areas identified as priorities to improve community health. The program will award a total of 16 grants up to $100,000.
Upcoming Events

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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. 
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Staff Contacts: 

Program Manager
New Jersey Future 
609-393-0008 x112 
Program Coordinator
New Jersey Future
609-393-0008 x106
Planning and Policy Associate
New Jersey Future
609-393-0008 x108
Community Outreach Coordinator
New Jersey Future