Water and Sewer
Water is a fundamental resource both to New Jersey’s natural heritage and to its economic well-being. Water resources serve the needs of people, agriculture and industry.
However, unless water is used sustainably those uses may place it, and ecosystems, at risk of permanent degradation.
The state of New Jersey has a complex system of laws, regulations and programs that address planning for and management of water, wastewater and stormwater. This system addresses both water quantity (supply) and water quality, and affects water infrastructure and land use decisions. New Jersey Future’s water quality management planning page highlights the state’s efforts to regulate wastewater infrastructure and the resulting impact on development patterns.
At the regional level, planning frameworks in the Highlands and Pinelands regions were established to protect those regions’ vulnerable water resources.
New Jersey’s urban areas face particular water-infrastructure challenges, exacerbated by a coming deadline for establishing plans to control their sewer systems. Learn more and download our report, Ripple Effects, on our urban water infrastructure resource page.
- Water Quality Management Planning
A resource for information related to wastewater planning and management in New Jersey.
- Upgrading Water Infrastructure
- Build It Green Initiative
- Mainstreaming Green Infrastructure
Mainstreaming Green Infrastructure is a program to make green infrastructure the first choice for stormwater management in New Jersey.
The partnership between New Jersey Future and the New Jersey Builders Association provided ample evidence at this year’s Atlantic Builders Convention that its focus on incorporating green infrastructure into development plans is having an impact.
The Jersey Water Works awards program recognizes sustainable solutions to the state’s water challenges and welcomes two additional sponsoring organizations.
An overview of several tools that allow developers and local officials to understand how various green infrastructure practices can fit into a development project, and what the impact would be of development on stormwater infrastructure.
Department of Environmental Protection Acting Commissioner Catherine McCabe responds to questions on water infrastructure, asset management, and lead in school drinking water during the Assembly Budget Committee’s hearing.
New Jersey Future has been working with Municipal Action Teams in three cities to educate residents on environmental issues and to help implement green infrastructure practices that will reduce combined-sewer overflows by keeping stormwater out of sewer systems.
03/12/2015: The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today 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 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the City of Trenton are preparing to present their plans to restore the Assunpink Creek at a Sept. 15 meeting.
How can New Jersey turn this urban water infrastructure crisis into an opportunity for long-term prosperity. August 2014.
This report and related case studies summarize the state of urban water infrastructure in New Jersey and how it affects residents and businesses. May 2014.
This report and related case studies summarize the state of urban water infrastructure in New Jersey and how it affects residents and businesses. May 2014.
See all Future Facts and Articles in this category »
Reports, Presentations and Testimony
- New Jersey Future Water Bank Green Infrastructure Financing July 2018
- 05/10/2018: New Jersey Future Testimony on S1073
- 01/02/2018: Letter on A5339
- 11/29/2017: Year One Clean Water Agenda for the Murphy Administration
- New Jersey Future Analysis of Testing for Lead in School Drinking Water August 2017
- 07/13/2017: Testimony on Drinking Water: A Crisis in Every State
- 06/08/2017: Recommendation on Water Quality Accountability Act
- Jersey Water Works Water Infrastructre Funding Report 06-2017 (Intern Report)
- 05/15/2017: Testimony on S2834 - Water Quality Accountability Act
- 03/20/2017: Testimony in support of A4569 - Water Quality Accountability Act
- New Jersey Future 2017 Gubernatorial Platform
- 02/13/2017: Testimony in support of A4415
- Lead in School Drinking Water
- 2013 Facing Our Future Report - Infrastructure Investments Necessary for Economic Success - Links to Water Infrastructure Resources
- Final Jersey City to Proacitvely Test Water Supply Press Release %282%29
- 08/31/2015: Hudson River RBD Project COP Comments
- 2013 Facing Our Future Report - Infrastructure Investments Necessary for Economic Success
- Can We Depend on Our Water Infrastructure?
- 2014-11-18_Trenton Green Infrastructure Feasibility Study.compressed
- 12/12/2014: Testimony on Solving Sewer Overflows: Getting Ahead of the Flow, New Jersey Clean Water Council
- Federal Urban Waters NGO News Release_12 3 2014
- 10/02/2014: Comments on NJDEP FY15 CWSRF and IUP
- Trenton_Meeting_Summary_FINAL
- New Jersey Future Stormwater Utilities Report 9-14 (Intern Report)
- 09/11/2014: Testimony supporting stormwater utilities bill A1583
- Roxanne Qualls presentation on Cincinnati
- PINELANDS_WEB_8_4_14-1
- New Jersey Future Van Abs 2014 Pinelands Growth Area Water Assessment
- Agenda for Change
- Case Study: Paterson
- Case Study: Jersey City
- Case Study: Hoboken
- Case Study: Camden
- Ripple Effects
- Van Abs: Water Infrastructure in New Jersey's CSO Cities
- 01/06/2014: Testimony S1557/A2641
- 12/05/2013: Testimony S1557/A2641
- Air Quality Baseline Topic Report
- Statutory and Regulatory Barriers to Green Infrastructure in New Jersey 1-13 (Intern Report)
- NY Times 8-3-2012 - Mapping Future Growth
- Wastewater Planning County Fact Sheets
- 04/02/2012: NJFuture Comments to State Planning Commission on Draft State Strategic Plan
- 01/18/2012: Statement on Implementation of Wastewater Bill
- 01/05/2012: Statement on A4422-Permit Extension Act
- 12/14/2011: Joint Statement on A4422-S3165 Permit Extension Act
- 12/12/2011: Testimony on S3156
- Executive Order-78
- Smart Growth NJ August 2011 Poll Report
