February 2021
On February 22, the Assembly Special Committee on Infrastructure and Natural Resources heard testimony on the impact of climate change and how variable weather patterns, sea level rise, and rising temperatures would exacerbate issues like flooding, water supply problems, and state or regional droughts. JWW members Dan Van Abs, Rutgers University; Raymond Cantor, NJBIA; Stacy McCormack, The Nature Conservancy testified.
Connect to New Jersey’s Water with New Dashboard! Register Today for the Webinar.
Jersey WaterCheck is launching on March 1, bringing together information on water and wastewater systems in one easy-to-use website. Check out the dashboard and learn more about your water system. Then join us on March 18 for a webinar to explore this online resource.
Funding for Water Infrastructure in Governor’s FY 2022 Proposed Budget
On February 23, Governor Murphy presented the FY 2022 Budget Address. The proposed budget includes $60 million to provide continued state budget support for the Drinking Water and Clean Water Infrastructure Fund. The budget also supports new staff to monitor lead and copper contaminants in drinking water. The FY2022 Budget in Brief provides more detailed information.
Water Leaders to Elevate New Jersey’s Water Innovation at April Summit
The WaterNow Alliance is hosting its virtual summit, Tap Into Resilience, on April 6-8. The summit is designed for local decision makers to explore cutting-edge water infrastructure funding strategies, and learn how to help implement more affordable, innovative, and sustainable water solutions. Several water leaders in the JWW network will be speaking at the conference, including:

  • Nathan Boon, William Penn Foundation
  • Lynn Broaddus, Water Environment Foundation
  • Ed Clerico, Natural Systems Utilities
  • Melissa Elliott, American Water Works Association
  • Jennifer Gonzalez, City of Hoboken
  • Craig Holland, The Nature Conservancy
  • Andy Kricun, Moonshot Missions
  • Howard Neukrug, Penn Water Center
  • Meishka Mitchell, Cooper’s Ferry Partnership
  • Chris Sturm, New Jersey Future
  • Lester Taylor, Florio Perrucci Steinhardt Cappelli, Tipton & Taylor LLC
  • David Zimmer, New Jersey Infrastructure Bank
Seminar Series to Protect Your Watershed, Tools for Local Leaders
Raritan Headwaters is hosting a seminar series providing guidance on scientific principles, tools, government regulations, and funding sources for watershed protection to local leaders from the 38 municipalities and three counties in the Raritan River Watershed. Learn more and see the upcoming seminar schedule on their website.
The Cost of Inaction

Jersey Water Works Updates
Many Voices Shaping the 2021 Work Plans—Join Us!
The Asset Management and Finance, Green Infrastructure and Combined Sewer Overflow Committees met to brainstorm ideas for their 2021 work plans. The Education and Outreach Committee is meeting on March 4 at 1:00 pm. Join a committee and help shape the future of New Jersey’s water infrastructure. Some of the new exciting projects include:

  • Mapping water risk and demographic data
  • Water affordability for utilities and customers
  • Long Term Control Plan implementation
  • Workforce development, and much more!
New Jersey Needs Water Infrastructure Funding Now
On January 27, 56 JWW members called on New Jersey’s congressional delegation to support critical investments in our state’s water infrastructure. A federal infrastructure investment is essential to transform New Jersey’s water infrastructure. The letter calls to:

  • Increase the Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Funds
  • Support amendment 829 to the Moving Forward Act, which authorized $22.5 billion over five years to replace lead service lines
  • Create a federal low-income water and wastewater assistance program
  • Advance climate solutions
  • Develop a new COVID-19 recovery package that targets significant new investments in community development programs
A Major Milestone, JWW Celebrates Long Term Control Plan Submissions
Working together to mitigate the impacts of CSOs in New Jersey requires immense effort from each permit holder. Recognizing those efforts, the JWW Committees submitted comments to NJDEP to ensure that the plans utilize green infrastructure and diverse funding, address climate change, encourage public participation, and ensure equitable outcomes in CSO communities. See a summary and JWW comments in a recent blog post.
Request for Proposals to Develop Water Risk & Equity Map, due March 3
The crises of climate change and racial injustice intersect and affect each other in complex ways. The JWW Green Infrastructure Committee is creating a New Jersey Water Risk and Equity Map, which aims to zoom in on these two crises at the state level to understand their impacts. See the RFP for a consultant to be the mapmaker for this project to improve understanding of the distribution of water risks in New Jersey.
Request for Proposals for Jersey Water Works Website Redesign
Jersey Water Works is planning to redesign its website to ensure that the collaborative can share information, engage existing members, and attract new individuals to join the network. Experienced consultants/firms who are interested in developing a website redesign should see the full Request for Proposals for more information. The deadline is March 8.
Legislative Updates
S963—Requires public water systems to provide notice of elevated lead levels in drinking water to customers and local officials; requires landlords to notify tenants of elevated lead levels. Approved out of the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee on February 22.

S3398/A5343—Requires public water systems to inventory and replace lead service lines within 20 years and provides for recoupment of costs by investor-owned public water systems. Referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee on February 4.
 
S829Requires property condition disclosure statement to indicate presence of lead plumbing in residential property. Reported from the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee with Amendments, 2nd Reading on February 9.
 
A5016—Establishes Water Apprenticeship, Training, and Resources Pilot Program in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Reported out of committee with committee amendments, 2nd reading in Assembly on February 24.
Job, Award, and Funding Opportunities
US Water Alliance’s US Water Prize, nominations deadline March 12.

Request for Proposals: Branding/Image Consulting, deadline March 5.
  • New Jersey Future seeks an experienced branding consultant/firm to develop a standalone identity for a new collaborative project called Lead-Free NJ. Full Request for Proposals.

Request for Proposals: Website Development, deadline March 5.
  • New Jersey Future seeks an experienced consultant/firm to develop a website for a new collaborative project called Lead-Free NJ. Full Request for Proposals.

Partners for Places Sustainable Climate Action or Green Stormwater Infrastructure grant, applications due March 19.
  • The local government sustainability and/or water director must have completed USDN Equity Foundations training or an equivalent at time of submission.
 
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation 2021 Request for Proposals for the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund, proposals due April 1.
  • Eligible projects will sustain and enhance fish and wildlife habitat; improve and maintain water quality for fish, wildlife and people; sustain and enhance water management to benefit fish and wildlife; and improve outdoor recreational opportunities.
Water Infrastructure in the News

New Jersey:
Wastewater surveillance for COVID-19 Middlesex County Utilities Authority

National:
Upcoming Events

March 4: Education and Outreach Committee meeting
June 10-11: NJ Planning & Redevelopment Conference hosted by New Jersey Future and APA-NJ (Call for Sessions due by Feb. 26)
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.
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