Lead Service Line Replacement (LSLR) VIRTUAL OFFICE HOURS FOR NJ WATER SYSTEMS
Jersey Water Works Lead Service Line Implementation Workgroup invites you to a virtual office hour webinar on Monday, September 15, 2025, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., designed to help water utilities navigate the LSLR replacement Funding and Financing process.
The session will cover the following Topics:
- DWSRF Financing to date
- Spending Dashboard/IUP/DAC
- Application Process
- Engineering Agreement
- Inspection Overview
- H2LOans portal
- Commonly Asked Q’s
Who Should Attend: Water utility operators, Municipal and county officials, Licensed drinking water operators, Professional engineers and certified public works managers, and Jersey Water Works members.
Speakers:
Alaina Ungarini
Planning and Program Coordination Section, Bureau of Water System Engineering
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Alaina Ungarini is an Environmental Specialist in the Bureau of Water System Engineering. She started her career at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) in 2017 after graduating from Lafayette College in Easton, PA, with a degree in environmental studies, government, and law.
Paul Hauch, PE, Bureau Chief, NJDEP Division of Water Quality, Bureau of Construction, Payments, and Administration
Samantha Thomas
Municipal Finance and Construction Element, New Jersey Department of Environmental
ProtectionSamantha graduated from Rutgers University School of Bloustein in 2023 with a Master’s in City and Regional Planning, with a concentration in Environmental Planning. She has worked within the NJDEP Municipal Finance and Construction Element since 2022 to develop and implement the Building Resilient Water Infrastructure Climate Change Resilience Guidance for the New Jersey Water Bank Program. This guidance ensures that future, publicly funded water infrastructure considers climate change impacts consistent with the most up-to-date New Jersey climate science and State policy.
Paul Hauch has over thirty-five years of experience at the New Jersey Water Bank, including twenty-seven years in the field, monitoring construction projects and assisting funding recipients with program compliance. Paul is currently the Chief of the NJDEP’s Bureau of Construction, Payments, and Administration, where he focuses on managing the construction phase implementation of funded projects. Paul’s bureau also produces budgets and schedules for funding agreements, coordinates the publication of annual clean water state revolving fund (CWSRF) intended use plan, and is responsible for the preparation of the CWSRF capitalization grant applications and CWSRF Annual Reports to USEPA. Paul is a graduate of Rutgers College of Engineering, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering. He is also a licensed professional engineer in the state of New Jersey.
Karen Cole, MPA/MES, Bureau Chief, NJDEP Division of Water Quality, Bureau of Environmental, Engineering and Permitting
Karen Cole has 35 years of experience at the NJDEP including 28 years in the New Jersey Water Bank. Currently, she is the Chief of the Bureau of Environmental, Engineering, and Permitting, comprised of environmental specialists, cultural resource specialists, and environmental engineers who review impact assessments and engineering design reviews as part of the New Jersey State Revolving Fund Program’s application process. She and her team assist drinking water and clean water project sponsors through the planning and design review phases of the financing process to achieve the New Jersey Water Bank’s overarching mission: to assist communities in constructing and funding sustainable infrastructure that protects water quality and public health. Karen is a graduate of Penn State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Resource Management, and the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned a dual Master of Public Administration/Master of Environmental Studies degree.
John Notte is the Project Manager of the Water Bank at the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (I-Bank), where he has served since April of 2023. Previously, John served as the I-Bank’s construction management assistant for both the Water and Transportation Banks. Since joining the I-Bank in 2015, John has supported communities across New Jersey in accessing critical infrastructure financing. He was integral to the Statewide Assistance Infrastructure Loan (SAIL) disaster relief program, which provided vital funding for water systems rebuilding after Superstorm Sandy. In his current role, John guides borrower projects from application through long-term financing, ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations. He also leads stakeholder engagement, convening meetings with borrowers, bond counsel, contractors, and NJDEP staff. He also contributes to borrower education and outreach by preparing and presenting marketing materials for the Water program. Committed to continuous growth, John is pursuing a degree in Business Administration at Rutgers University and plans to obtain PMP certification to further strengthen his technical and leadership capabilities.
