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The Future-Forward Water Workforce Program, a partnership between Jersey Water Works (JWW), New Jersey Future (NJF), Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA), and Atlantic City Municipal Utilities Authority (ACMUA), is actively advancing a water workforce initiative supported by the Partners for Places Jobs and Inclusive Infrastructure Initiative. The program has reached a milestone, enrolling 20 individuals in professional development courses.

During the 2025 Jersey Water Works Conference, Deandrah Cameron, facilitator of the Lead Service Line Replacement workgroup, arranged for leaders to be interviewed by waterloop to shine a light on the progress made thus far.

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In 2025, Jersey Water Works members advocated for the addition of a PFAS and Emerging Contaminants Committee to the collaborative's working committees. To understand the significance of this initiative, first we must understand what PFAS is. According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, “Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are a large family of thousands of manmade chemicals that have been used in industrial and commercial applications for over 70 years.” PFAS—often referred to as “forever chemicals”— “repel water and oil and are resistant to heat and chemical reactions. Products that may contain PFAS include stain-resistant coatings for upholstery and carpets, water-resistant breathable clothing, greaseproof food packaging, and certain fire-fighting foams (aqueous film-forming foams used for extinguishing petroleum-based fires).”

Until the establishment of the 2017 Water Quality Accountability Act (WQAA), New Jersey’s public community drinking water systems with over 500 service connections were entirely responsible for setting their own infrastructure standards. Due to a lack of transparency in how systems were managed, there was growing concern about aging infrastructure and the quality of drinking water. The WQAA was a major step in requiring water purveyors to improve safety, reliability, and administrative oversight of water infrastructure, thereby serving as a way to hold drinking water systems accountable. In 2021, amendments made to the law provided the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) with the tools to enforce it. The Jersey Water Works Asset Management and Finance Committee (JWW-AMF), along with its predecessor, the Best Practices Committee, played a key role in providing recommendations that informed the WQAA legislation and its subsequent amendments. These included legislative testimonies by multiple JWW members, collaborating with the American Water Works Association New Jersey section Infrastructure Management Committee to submit recommendations on Asset Management Key Performance Indicators, and public comments on WQAA rules and regulations, elevating important perspectives.

Access to clean water is a human right, but for thousands of families in New Jersey, the rising cost of water and sewer bills turns this essential service into a financial burden. Part One of the Water Affordability Series, "The Challenge," laid out the harsh reality of this issue, from water shut-offs to tax liens. This installment, "The Opportunity," is about action. It identifies the gaps in current assistance programs and explores the collaborative actions and policy changes needed to create long-term affordability programs necessary for a sustainable and equitable water system. New Jersey Future, with member of Jersey Water Works, aims to garner public support and advocate for such policy change with the goal of ensuring that every resident has access to clean, affordable water and the opportunity to thrive.