Plans and Commitments

1. Host at least three education events/meetings to enhance understanding of debt, shared services, collaboration, climate resilience, and SRF funding/application processes. 
2. Promote best practices for innovative low-income discount programs to advance water affordability. 
3. Review and comment on the FY 2025/FY 2026 Intended Use Plan and other public comment opportunities aligned with committee goals. 
4. Encourage municipalities to consider creating stormwater utilities (facilitated by the Stormwater Utility Subcommittee)
   • Improve communication about stormwater utilities and promote available resources, including the “Stormwater Utilities Can Facilitate Green Infrastructure” paper, the SWU Resource Center, materials for CSO communities, and create a short informational video. 
   • Organize a webinar highlighting case studies from municipalities on feasibility studies.
   • Explore a regional approach for implementing stormwater utilities in New Jersey and assist utilities in defining stormwater management programs to meet community and regulatory needs.

1. Advance implementation of green infrastructure by highlighting local educational or volunteer opportunities and organize at least one in-person meeting/GI tour.
2. Elevate two green infrastructure success story examples to showcase effective GI practices to inspire and educate others.
3. Provide Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) and retrofit guidance for municipalities.

1. Work with NJDEP to ensure that the Jersey Water Works (JWW) “Smart CSO Control Plan” goals are reflected in the last two draft CSO permits, which include reviewing and developing comments for each regional permit. 
2. Identify and engage with at least two wastewater utilities related to their work on CSOs to gain insight, and elevate utility-level best practices. 
3. Collaborate and support Sewage-Free Streets and Rivers’ efforts around continued advocacy for the accelerated release of the final Long-Term Control Plans/five-year permits and monitor permit implementation progress.
4. Encourage NJDEP to require a CSO affordability analysis with and without typical SRF funding and stormwater fees with the goal of reducing timelines and increasing environmental and public health benefits. 

1. ⁠Convening the Lead Service Line Implementation Workgroup: Facilitating guidance and best practices for New Jersey water systems
2. Supporting Local Policy Work: Collaborate with Lead-Free NJ Community Hubs to inform and advance statewide implementation of lead service line
3. ⁠Supporting Clean Drinking Water: Ensuring safe water in schools and childcare facilities, elevating recommendations from the childcare report.
4. Partner with Jersey WaterCheck to update the lead resource page and publish a data report on the progress of LSL replacements in NJ.
5. Partner with the New Jersey Water Association to offer credits for LSL workshops.
6. Support Lead-Free NJ’s Advocacy Committee in enacting key legislative initiatives, such as disclosure of lead in drinking water at rental properties and lead-certified filters for Child Care Facilities (CCFs).

1. Release the sixth update of JWC metrics, including relevant data updates as needed.
2. Release short-form data story videos that educate the importance of water infrastructure, the costs involved, and success stories in infrastructure upgrades using JWC data in collaboration with JWW committees and other stakeholders.

We will not be convening the climate resilient committee in 2025. This committee will sunset, and work on climate resilience will be integrated into other committees.

1. Continue to increase awareness about careers in the water sector via communications strategies and connecting partners. Support Hudson County Community College (HCCC) Water Workforce initiative by connecting HCCC’s team to utility partners and identifying potential job opportunities for graduates through August. 
2. Host one “Water Workforce Briefing” meeting to continue uplifting what is happening in New Jersey, what is working, and identify the gaps. 
3. Publish a case study to highlight the Water Workforce Utility Program.