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With some fanfare more than four-and-a-half years ago, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy unveiled his $100 million plan to eliminate the alarming amount of lead leaching into the drinking water of public schools in the state. An investigation by The Jersey Vindicator has found the plan never got off the ground, leaving countless thousands of New Jersey students still exposed to the toxic dangers of lead every day. Strangely, no one has seemed to notice.

US Water Alliance’s latest report, “Toward a Strong and Equitable Water Workforce,” identifies three strategies and nine initiatives to address the quantity and equity challenges in the nation’s water utility workforce. Jersey Water Works Director Paula Figueroa-Vega contributed to the report by sharing information about the initiatives of the water workforce taskforce.

New Jersey’s water-related infrastructure is a complex system, constantly facing the challenges posed by stormwater runoff and working to properly manage it. Stormwater management isn’t just about handling rainfall; it’s a critical aspect of preserving water quality and mitigating flooding risks. In New Jersey, where urbanization and rainfall patterns intersect, managing stormwater is more than just a priority; it’s a necessity. Enter a stormwater utility— a dedicated fee to address these stormwater management challenges.

The JWW Stormwater Utility Information Forum is featured in this blog.

Hudson County Community College (HCCC) has successfully concluded its first Water Workforce Utility Pilot Project. The 8-week paid program for adults aims to develop a skilled workforce for the water industry in New Jersey. The 14 students in this cohort will now enter the water workforce with added skills and knowledge to establish lasting and fulfilling careers in the water industry.

Hudson County Community College will launch the New Jersey Water Workforce Development Initiative pilot program to educate, train, and place graduates into employment opportunities within the water sector. Collaborative partners, such as Bank of America, New Jersey Future, Veolia, New Jersey Water Association, New Jersey Utility Association, and members of Jersey Water Works, shared their expertise during the spring and summer months to plan the initiative. Together they hope to connect individuals to viable career opportunities in the water sector.

JWW Co-Chair Andy Kricun is quoted in this NJDEP press release announcing $1 Million in Grants for Green Infrastructure Projects in Hudson-Raritan Watershed.

The water workforce is facing a big challenge because longtime employees and Baby Boomers are retiring. So, it is important that the state’s next generation of water workforce frontline workers is well-trained and supported on their pathway to successful careers in this important field.

JWW Co-Chair Andy Kricun is quoted in this NJDEP press release announcing the launch of The New Jersey Water Infrastructure Spending Dashboard, an interactive data visualization tool that demonstrates the amount of funding that has been awarded for clean and drinking water projects for Fiscal Year 2023.

New Jersey Future (NJF), with the guidance of the Jersey Water Works (JWW) Water Workforce Task Force, has established the New Jersey Water Workforce Development Initiative pilot program to educate, train, and place graduates into employment opportunities within the water sector.

JWW Steering Committee member Patricia Lindsay-Harvey and JWW Co-Chair Andy Kricun are featured in this article which examines the major costs that systems stressed with storms face.