March 2019
Photo of the Month
Photo: What happens to mardi gras beads after the festival ends? The city of New Orleans pulled 93,000 pounds of beads from just five blocks of storm drains. Photographer: Carrie DeMay for Bloomberg Businessweek.
Governor Signs Stormwater Utility Bill (Clean Stormwater and Flood Reduction Act)

Advancing the JWW goal of ensuring effective and financially sustainable systems, this legislation authorizes local government entities to create stormwater utilities and assess stormwater fees. The law specifies that revenues raised via these fees must be used for maintenance and upgrade of stormwater systems This will help ensure investment and proper operation and maintenance of the state’s stormwater systems in a cost-effective, equitable manner that treats ratepayers fairly.

Coverage:
The Cost of Inaction

Often overlooked, our water infrastructure isn't noticed until something goes wrong. This section spotlights everyday consequences felt by residents of New Jersey of not investing in our water systems.

News:
Water main break in Gloucester: Officials ( Gloucester Township Patch )
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Jersey Water Works Updates
2019 Work Plan Unveiled

JWW released its 2019 work plan , which will guide the work of our four working committees as they advance the collaborative’s shared goals . Any member of the collaborative may join a committee. Questions? Contact Brian Caycho , (609) 393-0008 x106.
We’re Hiring!

New Jersey Future, the collaborative’s backbone organization, seeks an experienced, motivated individual to create a robust, transparent system of performance metrics designed to accelerate the improvement of water infrastructure systems. The position combines project management, work with metrics and data, stakeholder consultation and convening, and written and oral communications. Read the full job description here .
New PFAS Fact Sheet (Louis Berger Fulfills Commitment!)

Louis Berger has developed this new fact sheet on PFAS , a group of synthetic chemicals that can contaminate drinking water supplies and affect public health, fulfilling its 2019 commitment to water infrastructure as a member of JWW. The DEP and the JWW Education and Outreach Committee also played significant roles in the development of this resource.  

PFAS in the News:
New Committee Report Details Low-cost Solutions for CSO Management

The JWW Combined Sewer Overflow Committee has published its new report: How Proper Maintenance and Cleaning of Sewer Systems Can Have Huge Benefits! It highlights the importance of sewer cleaning and inspection as critical elements of a proper and effective sewer system operation and maintenance program. It also provides regulatory recommendations to help ensure that municipalities/ utilities are implementing these basic, cost-effective control measures and are operating and maintaining their collection systems properly.
Two Committees Featured at Two Industry Conferences

  1. Pilar Patterson, Kleinfelder and Vin Rubino, Wade Trim presented the JWW Combined Sewer Overflow Committee's work on balancing green and gray solutions to CSO management at the AEA Spring Utility Management Conference on March 13.
  2. Dan Kennedy, Utility and Transportation Contractors Association presented the JWW Asset Management and Finance Committee's joint work on developing metrics for asset management programs at the AWWA-NJ Annual Conference on March 21.
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Our Water Transforming

By aligning individual efforts and diverse perspectives to advance shared goals , JWW can realize "Smart Infrastructure. Strong Communities." Together, members will achieve healthier, more prosperous and just communities and a more sustainable environment!

Effective and Financially Sustainable Systems


  • EPA has completed several updates to its Water Finance Clearinghouse, providing new information on funding, financing, and other resources for the water infrastructure sector.




Empowered Stakeholders

  • Black & Veatch is presenting a webinar on April 3 to share benchmarking data and findings from its assessment of water and wastewater rates across the 50 largest cities in the United States.

 

Successful and Beneficial Green Infrastructure

  • Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program received an Environmental Enhancement Merit Award from the New Jersey Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects for “Reading Rain Gardens: A Community Environmental Initiative for Woodbridge Libraries.”

  • Upcoming seminar presented by DEP, I-Bank, New Jersey Future, and JWW, will cover stormwater management rule changes and Water Bank financing for green infrastructure projects. Stay tuned for more details!

Smart Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Plans



New Resources


Funding Opportunities

Deadline: April 15
Funds available: Up to $1,500 per grantee.
Suitable projects include, but are not limited to, educational stormwater management projects on preserved public open space.
Water Infrastructure in the News

New Jersey:
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.
Want to see your new resource, blog post, event, etc. highlighted in the next email? Share it with Brian Caycho to be included!

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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 Manager
New Jersey Future
(609) 393-0008 x108
Community Outreach Manager
New Jersey Future
510-452-7178