Flint’s Wake-Up Call for New Jersey — and the Nation

New Jersey communities are not experiencing Flint’s dire public-health crisis. However, while our water systems are better managed and regulated, they share many of the same underlying issues, and are crying out for action. Children in Paterson, Clifton, Passaic, Prospect Park and Woodland Park, for example, face potential health impacts from lead fixtures and service… Continue reading Flint’s Wake-Up Call for New Jersey — and the Nation

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Fixing Flooding in Communities Through Collaboration

Earlier this month, the Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority’s green and grey infrastructure projects earned national recognition from the Environmental Council of the States. The national acclaim is a result of a competition for the top three most innovative uses of the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) since the fund’s origin in 1987. Projects… Continue reading Fixing Flooding in Communities Through Collaboration

Sewage Overflow Warning Signs Popping Up

Sign warns residents to avoid this Newark Outfall at the Passaic River. Photo courtesy of the City of Newark.

Twenty-four-inch by 18-inch warning signs have been popping up along waterways throughout New Jersey. “Warning” or “Aviso” can be read in bold red letters, advising community members to steer away from nearby waters during rain events that might cause combined sewer overflows (CSOs). During rain events at these sites, raw sewage can flow into waterways,… Continue reading Sewage Overflow Warning Signs Popping Up

Conference Pinpoints Water as Defining Issue for Next Generation

New collaborative introduced; will focus on upgrading water infrastructure. At the inaugural New Jersey Urban Water Conference on Dec. 10, speaker after speaker stressed the importance of water to healthy communities and economic vitality in New Jersey’s cities and towns, and cited numerous examples of how New Jersey’s inadequate water infrastructure threatens to hamper that… Continue reading Conference Pinpoints Water as Defining Issue for Next Generation

Introducing Jersey Water Works!

The inaugural Steering Committee at the New Jersey Urban Water Conference held December 10, 2015.

At the inaugural New Jersey Urban Water Conference on Dec. 10, 2015, a steering committee of thought leaders from a variety of sectors concerned about inadequate water infrastructure jeopardizing the long-term health and economic vitality of New Jersey’s cities and towns, announced the establishment of a new collective entity: Jersey Water Works. Jersey Water Works is,… Continue reading Introducing Jersey Water Works!

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Entering a New Era of New Jersey Urban Water Quality

The Jackson Street CSO in Newark

The first of two updates on the progress being made toward addressing the problem of sewage overflows in New Jersey cities. It was written by New Jersey Future graduate intern Sarah Watson. The Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission has signaled that it intends to go above and beyond the minimum requirements set in its new state… Continue reading Entering a New Era of New Jersey Urban Water Quality

New Permits Should Spark Generational Community Investments

On March 12, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection issued final permits to the 25 cities and utilities that operate combined-sewer systems (CSSs), a first step to updating decrepit infrastructure, minimizing flooding and keeping raw sewage from reaching public waterways. The new permits require affected towns and sewer treatment authorities to create and adopt plans… Continue reading New Permits Should Spark Generational Community Investments