December 8-10, 2021

12:30 PM Pre-conference Networking 

1:00 PM Conference Kick-Off: Welcome and Greetings

In the face of urgent water problems like post-Ida flooding and water contamination, the Jersey Water Works collaborative is the catalyst for effective problem solving to ensure our water systems are strong and support healthy communities. This year, JWW co-chairs challenge members to recommit as the collaborative pivots increasingly to on-the-ground implementation —replacing lead pipes statewide, fixing combined sewer systems, and hopefully deploying new state and federal funding. How can we work together to do more, better, and faster in service of every resident?

• Andy Kricun, Jersey Water Works Co-Chair
• Nicole Miller, Jersey Water Works Co-Chair
• Mark McDonough, Senior Vice President of American Water and President of New Jersey American Water

1:20 PM NJDEP Commissioner Address

Commissioner Shawn LaTourette will share how the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is working in collaboration with stakeholders to ensure clean water for all, reduce climate risks, and advance the Department’s goals toward environmental justice.

• Shawn LaTourette, Commissioner of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

1:40 PM Keynote Address

Colette Pichon Battle is an accomplished advocate at the forefront of water equity conversations. Colette will bring her deep knowledge of climate justice, equitable disaster recovery, and community economic development. She joins New Jersey in the midst of water disaster, flooding, and climate change. Her on-the-ground experience in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina and her involvement in national and international solutions is sure to inspire and challenge conference participants.

• Colette Pichon Battle, Executive Director of Gulf Coast Center for Law & Policy

2:15 PM Accelerating Water Infrastructure Projects: Progress, Commitments, and Call to Action

Each Jersey Water Works member drives the work and advances an important piece of the water infrastructure solution. They come together to connect the dots in an organized effort and capitalize on each other’s strengths. Learn more about how they are making progress on shared goals, members’ commitments in 2022, and how you can take action.  

• Rich Calbi, Ridgewood Water
• Shoshanna Page, City of Newark

2:30 PM Break

3:00 PM Plenary panel: When significant funding is finally available for capital investments in water, will it be accessible to all? 

New government mandates and escalating climate threats require communities to make generational investments in water systems. But, those who lack access to credit—or the capacity to write complicated project plans and loan applications—risk not being able to tap into funding streams. Centering water equity, this plenary will explore several opportunities to ensure access for all, especially in under-resourced communities.

• Dan Kennedy, Utility & Transportation Contractors Association of NJ (moderator)
• Kareem Adeem, City of Newark
• Katy Hansen, Environmental Policy Innovation Center
• Zach McCue, Office of U.S. Senator Cory Booker
• Nicole Miller, MnM Consulting

This session is approved by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) for 1.5 CM credits.

4:30 PM Adjournment

5:30 PM Pre-Workshop Networking

6:00 PM Workshop: Seizing the Moment: The Role of Community and Water Stewards

This workshop aims to build connection, alignment, and capacity to advance the transformation of New Jersey’s water infrastructure. The panelists are talented, placed-based leaders from local communities and the water utility sector. This conversation builds upon the Jersey Water Works model of collective impact, according to which collaboration and cultivating relationships are key to addressing water issues and exploring solutions. 

• Marcus Sibley, MSW, New Jersey State Conference NAACP, National Wildlife Federation (moderator)
• Martha Arencibia, Paterson Green Team Co-chair
• Rina N. Dalal, CDM Smith
• Joel Rosa, City of Perth Amboy
• Marianna Schaffer, The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation

This session is approved by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) for 1.25 CM credits.

7:15 PM Adjournment

9:00 AM Workshop: Why Affordability Matters: Understanding Water and Sewer Burdens and Tailoring Solutions

How does water affordability stress affect utility operations, capital investments, and—most importantly—households? This workshop will showcase new findings on the location and extent of “affordability stress” caused by drinking water and sewer rates. Panelists will discuss potential solutions, including timely updates on proposed state legislation, federal initiatives, and ways to target New Jersey Water Bank assistance. Understanding and eliminating affordability stress helps to ensure that water infrastructure upgrades can be moved forward—for everyone.

• Renee Koubiadis, New Jersey Citizen Action (moderator)
• Kristin Epstein, City of Trenton
• Larry Levine, Natural Resources Defense Council
• Dan Van Abs, Rutgers University

This session is approved by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) for 1.5 CM credits.

10:30 AM Break

11:00 AM Workshop: Resilient Water Systems in the Face of a Changing Climate

New Jersey’s water infrastructure systems are in the cross-hairs of climate change. While these systems must be protected from the impacts of climate change themselves, they are also key to safeguarding communities from flooding, sea level rise, and more. Using a vulnerable municipality as a case study and hearing from leaders at utilities that have undertaken various resilience measures, the experts on this panel will explore the many ways that drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems can adapt to climate change and manage flooding.

• Jennifer Brunton, Chair for Water/Wastewater Committee at ACEC (moderator)
• Jim Cosgrove, Kleinfelder
• Hector Herrera, Bound Brook
• Alua Suleimenova, WSP USA
• Project spotlights: Rick Dovey, Atlantic County Utilities Authority; Oleg Kostin, New Jersey American Water; Scott Schreiber, Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority

This session is approved by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) for 1.5 CM credits.

12:30 PM Break

1:00 PM Workshop: Putting Lead Service Lines in New Jersey’s Rearview Mirror

A new law requires New Jersey water systems to replace lead service lines within 10 to 15 years. Can this urgent and massive undertaking be achieved on time and under budget? Panelists at this session will grapple with challenges and solutions on funding and implementation, as well as ways for utility managers to share best practices. While the work gets underway, attendees will also be invited to explore the role we each must play to continue to educate vulnerable residents on how to remain safe and informed about lead in drinking water.

• Tiffany Stewart, Department of Water and Sewer Utilities, City of Newark; Co-Chair of JWW Lead in Drinking Water Task Force (moderator)
• Mike Furrey, Agra Environmental and Laboratory Services
• Patricia Ingelido, Division of Water Supply and Geoscience, DEP
• Don Shields, NJ American Water
• Shereyl Snider, East Trenton Collaborative, LFNJ Community Hub

This session is approved by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) for 1 CM credit.

2:30 PM Adjournment