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.
-
03/28/19Fact Sheet: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
This fact sheet, Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), provides an introduction to PFAS chemicals, their uses, potential risks, major sources in the environment, occurrence in New Jersey’s public water systems, regulatory developments, remediation information, and links to additional resources. It was published in March 2019. To educate stakeholders on problems and solutions and to empower stakeholders in the planning and management of ...LEARN MORE#Community Engagement and Partnerships,#Data,#Drinking WaterPRODUCT OF
Education and Outreach Committee
Visit the Education and Outreach Committee page -
11/29/17Jersey Water Works Social Media Toolkit on Water Infrastructure
The Jersey Water Works Community Engagement Committee has compiled memes, posts and tweets that can be used to help you raise awareness about combined-sewer overflow pollution, flooding, runoff and the need for water infrastructure investment. Our goal is to engage stakeholders and the public in water infrastructure issues. Use these posts, tweets and memes strategically on days like “Imagine a Day without Water” to educate the public on water ...LEARN MORE#Community Engagement and PartnershipsPRODUCT OF
Education and Outreach Committee
Visit the Education and Outreach Committee page -
11/28/17Educational Resources for the Classroom Inside and Outside of School
The Jersey Water Works Community Engagement Committee worked with a New Jersey Future intern to compile educational resources on water infrastructure that can be used inside and outside of school. We separated the content by what we thought would be most useful for inside and outside of the classroom. Videos, for example, are in the section for outside of the classroom but could be used to supplement a classroom lesson as well. In addition, ...LEARN MORE#Community Engagement and PartnershipsPRODUCT OF
Education and Outreach Committee
Visit the Education and Outreach Committee page -
09/06/17Educational Signs on Combined Sewer Outfalls
The Jersey Water Works Community Engagement Committee has developed graphics for signage that can be used by combined sewer system cities and towns, organizations, and individuals to educate the general public on combined sewer overflows. These images have been approved by the NJDEP for permit holders to use to help fulfill their NJ CSO permit public participation requirement. A full installation includes three images: a warning, explanation, ...LEARN MORE#Community Engagement and Partnerships,#Smart CSO Control PlansPRODUCT OF
Education and Outreach Committee
Visit the Education and Outreach Committee page -
07/29/16Lead in Our Drinking Water
Jersey Water Works recognizes that not only a modern, robust water infrastructure but also an informed public are crucial for the health of our children, our communities and ultimately our economy. These resources are provided to help educate on the risks and effects of lead exposure from drinking water. Lead In Drinking Water (NJ DEP) The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has compiled resources for the general public as well as ...LEARN MORE#Drinking Water,#LeadPRODUCT OF
Education and Outreach Committee
Visit the Education and Outreach Committee page
No facilitators listed yet.
