Through their annual work plans, Jersey Water Works committees plan and implement projects to advance the goals of the collaborative. The committees, their 2020 Work Plan projects, their chairs, and their 2019 accomplishments items are listed below. View the work and accomplishments of our committees in 2018 and 2019 and our committees in 2016 and 2017.
Any member of the collaborative who wants to participate actively in the work of Jersey Water Works may join a committee. Not yet a member? Join the membership today!
Committee Initiatives and Work Products:
Asset Management and Finance Committee
Co-chairs: Dan Kennedy, Utility and Transportation Contractors Association; Larry Levine, Natural Resources Defense Council
Committee goal: Communities maintain and improve drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure systems to deliver quality water services that meet community needs. Operating budgets and capital investment are adequate and affordable, resulting in systems that operate efficiently and in a state of good repair.
2020 Work Plan Items:
- Advance water and sewer affordability for low-income customers by:
- Producing recommendations to implement the white paper state policy options report released in 2019;
- Establishing a consensus methodology for measuring affordability issues, applying it to assess NJ communities, and publishing the findings.
- Work with the Combined Sewer Overflow committee to identify ways to address affordability in Long Term Control Plans and recommend them to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
- Review and issue comments on state government proposals relating to water financing and asset management plans, including the Water Quality Accountability Act.
- Work to increase the number of committee members and their racial and gender diversity.
2019 Accomplishments:
- Published a white paper on policy options for improving water and wastewater affordability for low-income customers.
- Conducted a study of capital investment by drinking water utilities statewide.
- Sent recommendations to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for Water Quality Accountability Act reporting, in partnership with the American Water Works Association.
Education and Outreach Committee
Co-chairs: Christine Ballard, CDM Smith; Lester Taylor, Florio Perrucci Steinhardt Cappelli Tipton & Taylor, LLC.
Committee goal: Well-informed decision makers, community partners, residents and ratepayers participate actively and influence the planning and management of their water infrastructure. They fully understand the importance of taking care of water infrastructure, including the costs of inaction.
2020 Work Plan Items:
- Make existing resources on water infrastructure more accessible for residents and other stakeholders by shaping a new JWW website interface.
- Share options for educating students on water infrastructure at the New Jersey Education Association’s annual conference.
- Submit a session proposal on water infrastructure for the ANJEC Congress.
- Host or participate in at least two national water infrastructure awareness events such as Infrastructure Week and Imagine A Day Without Water, and amplify those efforts through JWW’s communications platforms.
2019 Accomplishments:
- Produced a menu of action options for individuals and organizations to reinforce the efforts of Jersey Water Works.
- Raised awareness of water workforce opportunities on two tours of water treatment facilities.
- Promoted Infrastructure Week and Imagine A Day Without Water by hosting a workshop on an Applicants Guide for the New Jersey Water Bank, providing tours of wastewater treatment plants, and conducting a social media campaign.
Green Infrastructure Committee
Co-chairs: Rosana DaSilva, NY/NJ Harbor Estuary Program; Bill Cesanek, CDM Smith; Chris Obropta, Rutgers Water Resources Program
Committee goal: Communities employ green infrastructure in a way that maximizes community benefits including reduced flooding and improved water quality, local economies, community health and long-term resiliency.
2020 Work Plan Items:
- Recommend green infrastructure incentive programs for NJ stormwater utilities based on a national review of best practices.
- Recommend regulatory changes to the DEP regarding reasonable use of green infrastructure within Green Acres-restricted parks.
- Continue the Green Infrastructure Champions program and collaborate with partner organizations to connect champions with interested communities.
- Solicit five NJ green infrastructure projects and share them as case studies in the New Jersey Green Infrastructure Municipal Toolkit. Focus case studies on the following topics:
- Green streets
- Park projects that include GI and minimize tree removal
2020 Accomplishments:
- Sent recommendations to the DEP regarding reasonable use of green infrastructure within Green Acres-restricted parks.
- Released case studies showing how 3 New Jersey communities—Hoboken, Highland Park, and Camden—planned and implemented green streets to meet regulatory requirements for stormwater management and provide community benefits.
2019 Accomplishments:
- Worked with New Jersey Department of Transportation and other partners to develop a new Complete and Green Streets policy that includes language for health, equity, and green infrastructure.
- Conducted nine Green Infrastructure Champions workshops in partnership with Rutgers Water Resources program and established an advisory committee.
- Conducted a national survey of stormwater utility incentive programs for green infrastructure.
Combined Sewer Overflow Committee
Co-chairs: Drew Curtis, Ironbound Community Corporation; Andy Kricun, Moonshot Missions and US Water Alliance
Committee goal: Municipalities and utilities adopt innovative CSO Long Term Control Plans with cost-effective solutions that meet or exceed permit requirements and provide multiple community benefits.
2020 Work Plan Items:
- Host a webinar or workshop to share CSO system success stories.
- Work with the Asset Management and Finance committee to identify ways to address affordability in Long Term Control Plans and recommend them to the DEP.
- Develop a framework for reviewing draft Long Term Control Plans (due to the DEP on June 1) send committee comments to the DEP and assist CSO communities in reviewing the plans.
- Develop recommendations and resources that will encourage local hire from environmental justice communities for water workforce jobs, link local residents to stable careers through job training programs and link utilities and unions to these training programs and to find qualified workers.
- Encourage CSO municipalities to seek funding from the NJ Infrastructure Bank in order to reduce the cost of implementation of the Long Term Control Plans.
2020 Accomplishments:
- Published a summary of Development and Evaluation of Alternatives Reports that CSO permit holders submitted to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
- Issued a case study on two workforce training programs in Camden, providing an overview that communities can refer to if they wish to create their own program. The programs were created to train residents of low-income communities and communities of color in green infrastructure maintenance and/or connect them to employment opportunities, including those in the water industry.
2019 Accomplishments:
- Produced a summary of Development and Evaluation of Alternatives Reports that CSO permit holders submitted to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
- Created an assessment of access to water workforce jobs for low-income communities and communities of color affected by CSOs.
- Gave multiple presentations at industry events on technical research conducted by the committee.
Interested in joining a committee? Contact Lauren Belsky of Jersey Water Works’ backbone staff, 609-393-0008 ex. 106, to learn more.
Task Forces include:
Lead in Drinking Water Task Force
Jersey Water Works has convened a collaborative task force of experts from water utilities, trade associations, environmental groups, academia, advocacy and community development organizations, and all levels of government will develop a practical, broadly-supported action agenda to eliminate lead in drinking water throughout New Jersey. Chris Daggett, former commissioner of the NJDEP serves as chairman. The task force’s work has culminated in the release of Lead in Drinking Water: A Permanent Solution for New Jersey in October 2019. This report outlines actions New Jersey can take to virtually eliminate lead in drinking water in 10 years. More information and a list of members here. Contact Gary Brune, 609-393-0008 ex. 119, to learn more.
Affinity Groups include:
New Jersey CSO Network
The New Jersey CSO Network is a forum for CSO permit holders and municipalities to share information and resources and seek regulatory, technical and financial support for CSO solutions that save money and serve communities better. The network includes staff and consultants from the 21 municipalities with CSOs and eight sewage treatment plants with NJDEP CSO permits. Andy Kricun of Moonshot Missions and the US Water Alliance and Fred Pocci of the North Hudson Sewerage Authority serve as co-chairmen. Jersey Water Works provides staff support. For more information, contact Lauren Belsky.
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