Jersey Water Works Members Announce Significant 2017 Commitments to Action

On Dec 2, 2016

At the Jersey Water Works annual conference, individual and organizational members of the collaborative committed publicly to more than 30 actions that they intend to take in 2017 to improve the condition of New Jersey’s water infrastructure.

Commitments to action include development of an app to allow Camden residents to report neighborhood flooding to both the city and the utility; expedited implementation of a required plan to control sewage overflows, also in Camden; development of Hoboken’s first-ever water infrastructure capital improvement plan; Jersey City’s pledge to proclaim a “Year of Water” in 2017; and Middlesex Water Company’s commitment of $160 million in new investment in water infrastructure in its service areas. Organizations also pledged to install green infrastructure, engage in educational and outreach efforts, and develop research, training, guidance, best-practice programs, innovative financing mechanisms, and technical-assistance offerings that will help expedite the modernization of New Jersey’s water infrastructure.

“It’s extremely gratifying to see so many organizations, from such a range of industry sectors, step forward in these meaningful and innovative ways to address the crisis in our water infrastructure,” said Jane Kenny of Whitman Strategy Group, one of the co-chairs of the collaborative. “These commitments are a testament to the important role our water infrastructure plays in the lives of absolutely everyone in the state, and an example of how many separate actions, taken collectively, can amount to real change.”

“These commitments demonstrate how enthusiastically the Jersey Water Works collaborative is mobilizing its more than 260 members to advance its shared goals,” said co-chair Mark Mauriello of Edgewood Properties. “It’s wonderful to see how strongly such a broad and diverse coalition has united in support of these efforts.”

The full list of commitments, along with the organizations making them, appears below.

Jersey Water Works Member Commitments for 2017

Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority

Expedited Implementation of CSO Long Term Control Plan

The Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority will complete the design and financing of  a $50 million component of its long term CSO control plan to eliminate flooding problems along the Camden waterfront.  The project includes a green infrastructure program, a new stormwater pumping station and upgrades to the existing combined sewer system and the  wastewater treatment plant.

Cooper’s Ferry Partnership

Release of Flood Mapping App “Camden Reports”

Camden SMART Partners have committed to enhancing the collaborative’s community engagement platforms through the development of Camden Reports, a web-based app that allows residents to report instances of flooding to Camden SMART Partners in real time via their mobile devices or computers. Residents are encouraged to provide a description and upload photographs of the flooding incident, which are sent directly to Camden SMART Partners and to American Water, the city’s water utility company, which then identifies a best solution.

City of Hoboken

First Water Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan

The City of Hoboken will develop its first Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for intermediate and longer-term investments in its water distribution system. The CIP will provide a rational planning approach that optimizes the funding required to maintain its drinking-water assets in a state of good repair. The City  will evaluate and recommend options for managing Hoboken’s water infrastructure and develop a sustainable financial implementation strategy.

City of Jersey City

Jersey City’s Year of Water

Jersey City and its Office of Innovation have designated  2017 as “A Year of Water.” The Office of Innovation will  work with  stakeholders to align priorities, promote partnerships, and encourage best practices to support water stewardship.

Middlesex Water Company

$160 Million Capital Investment in Water Infrastructure

Through its “Water for Tomorrow” program, Middlesex Water Company will invest $160 million in water infrastructure in 2017 and 2018 to enhance safety, reliability and resiliency. Projects will include construction of a critical transmission main for backup water supply; new ozonation treatment to meet water quality requirements; several large tanks for additional storage;, additional electric standby generation; and relocation of meters to exterior pits for greater customer convenience and safety.

Association of Environmental Authorities of New Jersey

Piloting a Professional Development Academy and Promoting Asset Management

Association of Environmental Authorities of New Jersey and Sustainable Jersey

Partnering to Host Training Session to Promote Best Practices

Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions

Empowering Environmental Commissions to Advance Stream Daylighting

Center for Natural Resources Development and Protection at the New Jersey Institute of Technology

Green Infrastructure Installation and Evaluation

Clean Ocean Action

Canine Scent Detection in the Navesink River Watershed and Beyond

Clean Water Action

Green Infrastructure Installations in Newark and Community Action Teams in the South Ward

Environmental Finance Center at Syracuse University

Technical Assistance and Training in New Jersey

Edgewood Properties and Whitman Strategy Group

Op-Ed to Promote Water Infrastructure Solutions that Provide Multiple Community Benefits

Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation

Formation of Water Infrastructure Funders Affinity Group

City of Hoboken

Bike Tour of Hoboken’s Urban Stormwater Management Measures

Louis Berger

Staff Support for the Jersey Water Works Measurement System

National Association of Clean Water Agencies

Environmental Justice and Community Service Compendium

National Association of Clean Water Agencies

Congressional Outreach on Water Rate Affordability and Low Income Community Impacts

The Nature Conservancy

Financing Facility for Green Infrastructure Projects

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

Developing Green Infrastructure Guidance

New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust

Issuing Environmental Infrastructure Bonds as “Green Bonds”

New Jersey Future

Going After Green Infrastructure — New Jersey Future Property, Alley and Block

New Jersey Utilities Association

Op-Ed to Promote Water Infrastructure Investments

NY/NJ Baykeeper

100,000 Oysters to Filter Water and 250 Volunteer Hours to Clean Local Waterways

NY-NJ Harbor & Estuary Program, Hudson River Foundation

Assessing and Communicating the Benefits of Improved Water Quality

Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program

Research Report: Stormwater Utilities as an Economic Driver for New Jersey

Sustainable Jersey

Water Infrastructure Actions Included in Certification Program

Stevens Institute of Technology

Transforming Stevens’ Campus into a Living Laboratory

The John S. Watson Institute for Public Policy at Thomas Edison State University

Formation of a Mayors’ Water Infrastructure Committee

United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 2

Working with New Jersey and Partners to Improve and Enhance Water Quality

Daniel Van Abs, Associate Professor, Rutgers University

Comparison of State Wastewater Infrastructure Reliability Regulations and Evaluation of Municipal Master Plans

The Wei

Grassroots Organic Food Coalition

In addition, seven organizations committed to posting the Jersey Water Works “member of” logo on their websites; four organizations volunteered for a stream clean-up, green infrastructure workshop or related activity; four organizations will feature Jersey Water Works and its work in their newsletters; and three organizations will publish a new resource in partnership with Jersey Water Works.

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