October 21, 2021
Today is “Imagine a Day Without Water,” a national education campaign that brings together diverse stakeholders to highlight how water is essential, invaluable, and in need of investment. Take action today and every day to raise awareness about the need to invest in our water infrastructure.
Use these resources to raise awareness about the value of water.
Photo Credit: Martha Arencibia (Paterson, NJ)
Six weeks after the storm, residents are losing patience. “Enough is enough” is the rallying cry of Paterson, NJ resident Martha Arencibia. Ida was not the first storm to cause contaminated sewage water to flood Martha’s home, and it certainly will not be the last. She’s done everything she can to protect her home from flooding, but the water still finds a way. Martha spent her own money to install a sewer trap in her basement, became a local advocate for solutions to combined sewer overflows (CSOs), initiated an adopt-a-catch basin program, organized public outreach meetings, and informed the State about CSO issues in Paterson. She even started a petition to urge officials at all levels of government to take immediate action to stop sewage flooding in Paterson.

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When: Wednesday-Friday, Dec. 8-10. Session times vary. See the agenda for more details.

The seventh annual Jersey Water Works Conference is a multi-day virtual event that will bring together more than 300 state and local community members, decision-makers, practitioners, and stakeholders to confront the threat of climate change with innovative solutions for our aging water infrastructure. Explore a variety of approaches to ensure every community can access new federal and state funding for water. Connect with water champions and members who continue to amplify the importance of addressing New Jersey’s water infrastructure.
CREWS in the News
The Sewage-Free Streets and Rivers campaign is funded by a generous grant from The Kresge Foundation to New Jersey Future. As part of an initiative that funds 24 grantees, the Climate Resilient and Equitable Water Systems (CREWS) initiative is a program working to transform stormwater and wastewater systems with climate-resilient water management practices that emphasize equity. This month we are featuring a Georgia-based organization that provides assistance to community groups in order to prevent and solve environmental health problems. In Aug. 2021, ECO-Action published a series of essays from community members on the theme of “Imagine a Day Without Water.” In her essay, Proctor Creek Stewardship Council’s Donna Stephens explains that “a day without water is not a problem in some distant land. No water shortages are a global concern and the reasons for this occurrence is varied. Water equity is something we must all strive for. Your next door neighbor may have a problem securing safe access to water.”
Upcoming Events
72 McBride Ave, Paterson, NJ 
Saturday, Oct. 30 9:30 AM - 12 PM
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About This Campaign
Sewage-Free Streets and Rivers is an action-oriented campaign that empowers community organizations to engage residents and small business owners to shape their communities’ solutions to reduce localized flooding and the raw sewage dumped into rivers and streams due to combined sewer overflows (CSOs). It is organized by its partners and an advisory board, with the support of New Jersey Future.
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