Water Infrastructure for Thriving Communities
New Jersey’s cities and towns face a multi-billion-dollar price-tag to fix drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure. The cost of not fixing them will be even higher.
Strong communities depend upon reliable water infrastructure. Every resident and business in New Jersey deserves safe drinking water, clean rivers, and flood-free neighborhoods. The growing New Jersey Future water team is working to transform the state’s drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems through a multi-pronged approach to engage people, change state policy, and foster innovation. For more information on New Jersey Future’s work in this area, please contact Managing Director for Policy and Water Chris Sturm (csturm
njfuture
org) , or any of the individual program leads noted below.
Jersey Water Works
- The collaborative has convened a Lead in Drinking Water Task Force to develop a practical, broadly supported agenda for eliminating lead in drinking water. The task force’s report, Lead in Drinking Water: A Permanent Solution for New Jersey, outlines actions New Jersey can take to virtually eliminate lead in drinking water in 10 years. In 2019-2020 and beyond, the task force will work on implementing the report recommendations.
- The collaborative is creating a data dashboard to display the current condition of drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems, as well as progress toward improvements. By supporting continuous learning and action, the dashboard will accelerate the improvement of water infrastructure in the collaborative’s four goal areas.
New Jersey Future provides backbone staff support to the Jersey Water Works collaborative as well as serving on its Steering Committee. For more information or to join the collaborative, please contact Program Manager Paula Figueroa-Vega (pfigueroanjfutureorg) or Program Coordinator Lauren Belsky (lbelskynjfutureorg) .
Mainstreaming Green Infrastructure
- Green Infrastructure Municipal Toolkit is an online resource to help municipalities plan, implement and sustain green infrastructure.
- Developer’s Green Infrastructure Guide is an online and printed information resource, produced in collaboration with the New Jersey Builders Association, to facilitate the inclusion of green infrastructure in private-sector developments.
For more information on the Mainstreaming Green Infrastructure program please contact Director of Stormwater Kandyce Perry (kperrynjfutureorg) .
Sewage-Free Streets and Rivers
njfutureorg) .Stormwater Utilities and Financing
njfutureorg) .Municipal Technical Assistance
- Trenton Municipal Action Team
New Jersey Future is working with the Rutgers Water Resources Program and Isles Inc. to pilot a community-based initiative addressing environmental health issues through the implementation of green infrastructure demonstration projects in the City of Trenton. New Jersey Future’s role is to help facilitate the Trenton municipal action team and to work with the city to review and recommend changes to its stormwater ordinance. For more information, please contact Director of Stormwater Kandyce Perry (kperrynjfutureorg) .
- Newark Green Stormwater Management
New Jersey Future has provided technical assistance to the City of Newark on stormwater management and green infrastructure as the city prepares its combined sewer system upgrade plan. We organized study trips for city staff to Philadelphia and Buffalo; and helped staff integrate green infrastructure into city capital projects and private development, and advance green infrastructure demonstration projects. We also work with local partners to develop and promote consistent messaging on green stormwater management. For more information, please contact Director of Stormwater Kandyce Perry (kperrynjfutureorg) .
Unlocking New Jersey’s Green Infrastructure Financing Program
New Jersey Future has worked with the New Jersey Water Bank to make it easier for cities to gain access to funding for green infrastructure projects that resolve combined sewer overflows. We are helping two cities advance through the funding process; we have prepared a user-friendly applicant’s guide; and have published a white paper that highlights program successes, identifies successful policies, and recommends strategies for applicants This work builds on our Build It Green initiative. For more information, please contact Managing Director, Policy and Water Chris Sturm (csturmnjfutureorg) .
Recent Reports:
New Jersey Future Blog
September 13, 2021 by Donovan GaylesThe new stormwater rules that went into effect on March 2, 2021 require NJ municipalities to update their Stormwater Control Ordinances (SCOs) to require GI in new major development projects. We examined which municipalities had updated their SCOs as required and which had gone above and beyond the NJDEP’s minimum requirements. Out of the 43 towns surveyed and researched, 28 towns have updated their SCO and 24 have posted these updates on their respective websites.
by Gary BruneBased on research conducted by the Trenton Bureau of the USA TODAY Network in 2019, approximately 480 school buildings across a third of the state’s school districts recorded lead levels that exceeded 15 parts per billion, the action level set by the federal government. Given the severity of the problem and the significant cost of remediation, it was clear that state assistance was necessary to protect students and teachers.
June 25, 2021 by Gary BruneWhen we discuss the attributes of our favorite communities, chronic flooding or unswimmable lakes and streams do not make the list. However, many municipalities in New Jersey confront those problems and, for at least some of them, the creation of a stormwater utility could be the key to a more sustainable, prosperous future. In this session entitled Oh, Sweet Relief! Stormwater Utilities as an Equitable Took to Solve Flooding and Pollution, held during the 2021 Planning and Redevelopment Conference, co-hosted by New Jersey Future and the New Jersey Chapter of the American Planning Association, four speakers covered the basics of stormwater utilities, including typical program design, fee structures, and credits for stormwater mitigation projects.
by Gary BruneA four-speaker panel, during the session Savvy Stormwater Strategies: How Planning at Every Level Can Help New Jersey Weather the Storm, held at the 2021 Planning and Redevelopment Conference co-hosted by New Jersey Future and the New Jersey Chapter of the American Planning Association, explored this issue from a regulatory, research, municipal, and policy standpoint. The session provided practical guidance on strategies to corral runoff and increase resiliency in the face of climate change, and identified important next steps to consider.
June 24, 2021 by Missy RebovichWater is essential for life, but the infrastructure that brings it into our homes—or keeps it out of our basements—is only considered when something goes wrong. At the 2021 New Jersey Planning & Redevelopment Conference session Water, Water Everywhere—Achilles Heel or Asset? panelists discussed why water can no longer be treated as an add-on issue that communities simply react to.
Articles and Stories
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.
A one-hour webinar focused on consumer-facing communications strategies for water and sewer utilities. Thursday, May 14, 2015.
2015 Smart Growth Awards: Reactivation of a neglected landmark park in downtown Newark as a thriving public space.
2015 Smart Growth Awards: Plan for re-engineering 16 blocks of Washington Street in Hoboken to improve safety and comfort for cyclists and pedestrians
2015 Smart Growth Awards: Partnership of community organizations working to construct green and grey infrastructure to alleviate flooding in the city of Camden.
The new stormwater rules that went into effect on March 2, 2021 require NJ municipalities to update their Stormwater Control Ordinances (SCOs) to require GI in new major development projects. We examined which municipalities had updated their SCOs as required and which had gone above and beyond the NJDEP’s minimum requirements. Out of the 43 towns surveyed and researched, 28 towns have updated their SCO and 24 have posted these updates on their respective websites.
Based on research conducted by the Trenton Bureau of the USA TODAY Network in 2019, approximately 480 school buildings across a third of the state’s school districts recorded lead levels that exceeded 15 parts per billion, the action level set by the federal government. Given the severity of the problem and the significant cost of remediation, it was clear that state assistance was necessary to protect students and teachers.
When we discuss the attributes of our favorite communities, chronic flooding or unswimmable lakes and streams do not make the list. However, many municipalities in New Jersey confront those problems and, for at least some of them, the creation of a stormwater utility could be the key to a more sustainable, prosperous future. In this session entitled Oh, Sweet Relief! Stormwater Utilities as an Equitable Took to Solve Flooding and Pollution, held during the 2021 Planning and Redevelopment Conference, co-hosted by New Jersey Future and the New Jersey Chapter of the American Planning Association, four speakers covered the basics of stormwater utilities, including typical program design, fee structures, and credits for stormwater mitigation projects.
A four-speaker panel, during the session Savvy Stormwater Strategies: How Planning at Every Level Can Help New Jersey Weather the Storm, held at the 2021 Planning and Redevelopment Conference co-hosted by New Jersey Future and the New Jersey Chapter of the American Planning Association, explored this issue from a regulatory, research, municipal, and policy standpoint. The session provided practical guidance on strategies to corral runoff and increase resiliency in the face of climate change, and identified important next steps to consider.
Water is essential for life, but the infrastructure that brings it into our homes—or keeps it out of our basements—is only considered when something goes wrong. At the 2021 New Jersey Planning & Redevelopment Conference session Water, Water Everywhere—Achilles Heel or Asset? panelists discussed why water can no longer be treated as an add-on issue that communities simply react to.
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.
A one-hour webinar focused on consumer-facing communications strategies for water and sewer utilities. Thursday, May 14, 2015.
2015 Smart Growth Awards: Reactivation of a neglected landmark park in downtown Newark as a thriving public space.
2015 Smart Growth Awards: Plan for re-engineering 16 blocks of Washington Street in Hoboken to improve safety and comfort for cyclists and pedestrians
2015 Smart Growth Awards: Partnership of community organizations working to construct green and grey infrastructure to alleviate flooding in the city of Camden.
See all New Jersey Future Blog posts and articles in this category »
Reports, Presentations and Testimony
- 11/14/2019: Testimony on Lead Bills S3990, S4110, S4177
- 04/17/2019: Comments on Proposed New C1 Stream Designations
- 02/14/2019: Testimony on A2697-S1783
- 06/14/2018: Testimony on Lead in Drinking Water
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 2013 Facing Our Future Report - Infrastructure Investments Necessary for Economic Success
- Can We Depend on Our Water Infrastructure?
- Federal Urban Waters NGO News Release_12 3 2014
- New Jersey Future Stormwater Utilities Report 9-14 (Intern Report)
- Jeff Hughes: Financing Urban Water Infrastructure
- 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
