Education and Outreach Committee
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.
See Jersey Water Works latest news on community engagement and partnerships.
Committee initiatives and work include:
- Host or participate in at least two activities (meeting, event, letter campaign) that engage and inform elected officials about the benefits of investing in water infrastructure including the need for funding the LTCP, stormwater utilities, green infrastructure, and how to utilize Jersey WaterCheck as a resource.
- Conduct an interactive program for the public to increase understanding of complex water policies and create opportunities for a two-way exchange of ideas.
- Host two structured listening sessions with utilities to learn more about their challenges and continue to identify opportunities for synergy.
- Create a resource for water customers at risk of service shut-off when the moratorium is over. Share with utility companies and the general public.
- Host two networking events for JWW members and non-members to activate their participation.
- 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.
- Host or participate in two events to promote water workforce development, such as running facility tours, career days, or job fairs, and share supporting materials.
- Make existing informational resources on water infrastructure more accessible for residents and other stakeholders by creating a new Jersey Water Works website interface.
- Implement a pilot schools program in Robbinsville to educate grade-school students on water infrastructure and share lessons learned.
- 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 Jersey Water Works’ communications platforms.
- 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.
Under Former Municipal Outreach Committee
- 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.
Under Former Best Practices Committee
- 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.
Under Former Municipal Outreach Committee
- Continue outreach for Mayoral Proclamations and City Council Resolutions.
- Provide technical training for decision makers and their staff on water infrastructure and best management practices.
- Build awareness of Jersey Water Works and water infrastructure through a strong presence at external events with a municipal audience.
Under Former Best Practices Committee
- Develop two actions for the Sustainable Jersey certification program: asset management and a water loss audit.
- Educate utilities about NJ A.I.M.S. and promote uptake through a presence at utility, municipal, and trade association conferences.
- Launch a recognition program for utilities that adopt N.J.A.1.M.S. practices through partnerships with water infrastructure trade associations.
Under Former Community Engagement Committee
- Develop and enhance educational materials and actions for community members and community-based organizations.
- Develop a list of specific stakeholders in communities, targeting areas that are perceived to have fewer potential stakeholders. Develop and implement strategy for communicating with identified stakeholders.
- Develop “universal” public participation materials for permittees that would outline best practices and checklist of potential stakeholders for outreach and supplemental teams.
- Create a network for green infrastructure Municipal Action Teams to share best practices and support and expand work.
- Via a letter to all New Jersey mayors, informed elected officials about the benefits of investing in water infrastructure and how to utilize Jersey WaterCheck as a resource.
- Conducted a listening session with the New Jersey Harbor Dischargers Group to learn more about their challenges and continue to identify opportunities for synergy.
- With AWWA-NJ Young Professionals, hosted a Young Professionals Networking Event where those in—or interested in—the water sector met and connected.
- Created a new Stormwater Ad-Hoc Subcommittee that combines all four committees’ efforts. Currently, they are in the process of creating educational materials and a model scope of work for feasibility studies.
- Reviewed website content to enhance access to educational resources and information about the efforts of Jersey Water Works.
- Promoted Infrastructure Week and Imagine A Day Without Water via social media.
- Participated in the Jersey WaterCheck focus group and conference Advisory Committee.
- 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.
- Created a water infrastructure fact sheet for media, to be included in press kits.
- Raised water infrastructure awareness statewide by creating social media content for events such as Infrastructure Week and Imagine a Day Without Water.
- Reached agreement to pilot a water infrastructure-focused curriculum with the Robinsville School District in 2019.
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03/19/21An Update on New Jersey Opinions on the State of Our Water Systems, the Environment, and Infrastructure
Jersey Water Works and New Jersey Future today released the results of a survey of 1,176 New Jersey residents that indicate that residents continue to believe that securing clean, safe drinking water should be the top environmental priority for the governor and Legislature. The survey, an abridged follow up to one conducted in 2017, shows that concern about lead in drinking water has remained steady with over three-quarters of the respondents ...LEARN MORE#Community Engagement and Partnerships,#Data,#Drinking Water,#LeadPRODUCT OF
Education and Outreach Committee
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02/09/21Federal Funding Sign On Letter to the New Jersey Congressional Delegation
The members of Jersey Water Works drafted a letter to New Jersey’s congressional delegation. Sent on January 27, 2021, the 56 signatories called on them to support critical investments in our state’s water infrastructure. New Jersey’s communities continue to confront issues including aging infrastructure, lead in drinking water, combined sewer overflows, and polluted waterways. With the added burden of the COVID-19 economy, the funds needed for ...LEARN MORE#Paying for Water InfrastructurePRODUCT OF
Education and Outreach Committee
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08/15/19Jersey Water Works Strategic Communications Recommendations and Message Platform
Jersey Water Works now has its own messaging guide on how to effectively communicate about water. This guide has tips on developing a strong message to engage individuals on the current state of our water infrastructure and the solutions JWW is working towards. Learn how to connect with your audience by starting with why everyone should care about the challenges we face in the water sector.LEARN MORE#Community Engagement and PartnershipsPRODUCT OF
Education and Outreach Committee
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05/14/19Handout: Water Infrastructure Drives New Jersey’s Economy
In order to lay the groundwork for wide-scale transformation of New Jersey’s water infrastructure systems, members of the Jersey Water Works collaborative have prioritized educating the public and elected and appointed officials on the importance of taking care of water infrastructure. This booklet is a tool for doing so and Jersey Water Works encourages all to make this economic case to their local and state elected and appointed officials ...LEARN MORE#Community Engagement and Partnerships,#Paying for Water InfrastructurePRODUCT OF
Education and Outreach Committee
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04/11/19Fact Sheet for Press Kits: New Jersey Water Infrastructure
To support media coverage of New Jersey’s water infrastructure issues, the Fact Sheet for Press Kits: New Jersey Water Infrastructure offers background information on water infrastructure in the state. It is a product of the Jersey Water Works Education and Outreach Committee whose goal is to promote well-informed decision makers, community partners, residents and ratepayers and their active participation and influence in the planning and ...LEARN MORE#Community Engagement and PartnershipsPRODUCT OF
Education and Outreach Committee
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