Through their annual work plans, Jersey Water Works committees plan and implement projects to advance the goals of the collaborative. Any member of the collaborative who wants to participate actively in the work of Jersey Water Works may join a committee.
The committees, their chairs, the Jersey Water Works 2016 Work Plan items and the Jersey Water Works 2017 Work Plan items, and their 2016 and 2017 accomplishments are listed below.
Best Practices
Co-chairmen: Larry Levine, Natural Resources Defense Council and Rick Risoldi, Middlesex Water Company
The Best Practices committee works to identify and help implement innovative, cost-effective solutions for New Jersey’s aging water infrastructure that provide community benefits.
2017 Work Plan Items
- Examine the legal impediments to establishing water infrastructure ratepayer assistance programs in New Jersey and identify policy recommendations to overcome them.
- Publish a report on “Cost Effective Investments for Water Infrastructure” and host an event to discuss implementation.
- Host educational events that utilize the framework provided by the NJ AIMS Guide, including training on water loss audits.
- Propose a completed Asset Management “action” for the Sustainable Jersey certification program.
2016 Accomplishments
- Helped municipal leaders conduct water loss audits and asset management by creating new Sustainable Jersey “actions.”
- Established a “One Water” awards program in partnership with industry associations, to recognize the use of best practices.
2017 Accomplishments
- Finalizing legal and policy recommendations to enable creation of low-income customer assistance programs, based on research and stakeholder input.
- Published a Combined Sewer Overflow Solution facts sheet highlighting best practices in New Jersey that enrich the resources found in the NJ AIMS Guide.
- Launched the New Jersey One Water Awards with industry partners to honor projects that exemplify a holistic “One Water” approach.
Green Infrastructure (a sub-committee of Best Practices)
Co-chairs: Jennifer Gonzalez, Louis Berger and Rob Pirani, NY/NJ Harbor Estuary Program
The Green Infrastructure committee works to promote and advance construction of green-infrastructure projects in CSO communities and across the state.
2017 Work Plan Items
- Advance implementation of “green streets” by recommending policy changes, promoting state and federal pilot projects and expanding the complete streets “action” in the Sustainable Jersey certification program.
- Partner with Jersey Water Works members to host green infrastructure trainings for key stakeholders.
- Recommend ways to conduct an inventory of green infrastructure installations and their performance.
- Facilitate community advocacy for green infrastructure by assessing stakeholders’ needs for green infrastructure tools and training and developing solutions to fill the gaps.
2016 Accomplishments
- Identified new ways for existing parks to manage stormwater via design tips and recommended changes to Green Acres protocols.
- Advanced green infrastructure and green streets, by educating municipal and county engineers, and forging a partnership with the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority.
- Helped municipal leaders promote green infrastructure planning and implementation by creating new Sustainable Jersey “actions.”
Municipal Outreach
Co-chairwomen: Linda Weber, Sustainable Jersey and Shoshanna Page, New Jersey Urban Mayors Association
The Municipal Outreach committee works to engage municipal staff and decision makers in upgrading their city or town’s water infrastructure.
2017 Work Plan Items
- Support the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association Water Infrastructure Policy Committee in developing state policy recommendations on water infrastructure and announcing them at a fall event.
- Partner with the New Jersey League of Municipalities and other Jersey Water Works members to provide an educational webinar series for municipal officials.
- Encourage partners to host events and conferences that include water-related sessions and invite state and local officials to participate.
2016 Accomplishments
- Helped mayors host national communications experts to bring training and free consulting to CSO cities, sewer utilities and community activists.
- Provided training to environmental commissions and green teams on CSO systems and solutions.
- Mayors, city councils and the New Jersey League of Municipalities have signed proclamations and resolutions on in support of 21st-century water infrastructure. Learn more about how to have your city or town sign on!
2017 Accomplishments
- Helped the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association Water Infrastructure Policy Committee develop recommendations for the new governor.
- Provided educational seminars on topics including the Water Quality Accountability Act, stakeholder communications, and new Sustainable Jersey “actions.”
Community Engagement
Co-chairwomen: Debbie Mans, NY/NJ Baykeeper and Meishka Mitchell, Cooper’s Ferry Partnership
The Community Engagement committee works to ensure that decision makers, community partners and ratepayers participate actively and influence the planning and management of their water infrastructure.
2017 Work Plan Items
- Produce public participation materials for the new municipal separate storm sewer (MS4) permit.
- Develop a strategic communications plan that identifies event-oriented social media campaigns and tools for committee members to use to engage stakeholders in water infrastructure issues.
- Provide tools and resources needed by CSO permit holders to address public participation requirements.
- Compile and share a collection of educational curricula about water infrastructure.
2016 Accomplishments
- Built bridges between sewer utilities and their stakeholders by convening regulators, utilities and community advocates to clarify CSO public-outreach requirements and to improve signage.
- Compiled and shared engagement resources, including educational materials, participation opportunities, stakeholder engagement lists, and communications tips.
2017 Accomplishments
- Designed images for signs that explain combined sewer overflows to the public, in partnership with the NJDEP and wastewater utilities.
- Compiled educational curricula to teach schoolchildren about water infrastructure
- Provided social media tools to engage stakeholders in water infrastructure events like Imagine a Day without Beer.
Finance
Co-chairmen: David Zimmer, New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust and Chris Daggett, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation
The Finance committee works to identify funding strategies and opportunities to ensure financially sustainable drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure systems.
2017 Work Plan Items
- Publish case studies on the financial benefits of asset management for drinking water and wastewater utilities.
- Assess the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust green infrastructure financing program to identify ways to improve applicant success at obtaining funding.
- Publish a national survey of state-level initiatives to fund water infrastructure.
2016 Accomplishments
- Launched research on two case studies, in partnership with the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust, into the fiscal implications of wastewater utility asset management programs.
- Initiated the evaluation of the state’s financing programs for green infrastructure.
2017 Accomplishments
- Published in-depth case studies assessing the fiscal implications of asset management for drinking water and wastewater utilities.
- Published a national survey of state-level initiatives to fund water infrastructure.
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