Water connects us all, and New Jersey’s water systems are essential to our communities- they cannot fail. That’s why Jersey Water Works is creating Jersey WaterCheck in February 2021.  

Jersey WaterCheck is an online resource that: 

    Includes every drinking water and wastewater system in the state 

    Incorporates data from publicly available sources and survey information in one easy-to use website 

    Creates the foundation we need to transform New Jersey’s water infrastructure 

Jersey WaterCheck will tell the story of our state’s water infrastructure needs. We require facts, data, and metrics that demonstrate the need to invest in sustainable, cost-effective solutions that provide our communities with clean water and waterways. Solving New Jersey’s water infrastructure challenges will lead to healthier, safer neighborhoods; local jobs; flood and climate resilience; and economic growth.

Jersey WaterCheck will also enable Jersey Water Works members to know if they are succeeding at meeting their shared goals and subgoals and provide feedback to Jersey Water Works members and committees about whether their strategies are succeeding and where they need refinement. By supporting continuous learning and action by JWW stakeholders, Jersey WaterCheck will accelerate the improvement of water infrastructure in the collaborative’s four goal areas, as detailed in the infographic below.

Jersey Water Works members will make Jersey Water Check successful: 

    Members can talk it up – Jersey WaterCheck is for all of us, and we’ll need you to help engage your organization in the launch.

    Utilities can engage in Jersey WaterCheck by becoming a part of our utility coalition, promoting the online resource, and sharing information with Jersey Water Works about their utility services.

Jersey WaterCheck Utility Survey

To help collect data for the dashboard, all drinking water and wastewater utilities received an online survey that ended in mid-November 2020. We are grateful to all the efforts made to send in responses to our survey.

What did the survey ask:

The survey had three sections: General Information, Drinking Water, and Wastewater. The main topic of the survey was utility finances, which will help us make the case for increased investment in water systems by customers and the state and federal government. All responses were voluntary. Please note that the dashboard will also be informed by data gathered from additional publicly available sources.

How utility information will be used:

Utility responses along with relevant publicly available data, will be featured on the utility’s individual system page and contribute to rolled-up statewide metrics in the dashboard. Utility leaders will have an opportunity to review Jersey Water Check, including your utility system page, in January before its public launch.

How was the survey developed:

The survey was created after gathering input from a data advisory committee and utility coalition. We know the critical work utilities do everyday to keep our communities healthy. Utilities have been at the forefront of using data to inform decision processes. Jersey WaterCheck will help you demonstrate progress, showcase public health commitment to your community, and enable learning on best practices from your peers. We can leverage data into opportunities for advocacy and support for NJ’s water and wastewater systems.

For more information contact Jyoti Venketraman.

The JWW data advisory committee provides subject area expertise and perspective on water sector metrics. Members include:

Daniel J. Van Abs Ph.D., PP/FAICP

Rutgers University, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences

G. Christian Andreasen, Jr., P.E.

Middlesex Water Company

Monique Girona

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

Wynnie-Fred Victor Hinds

Newark Environmental Commission; Clean Water Action

Sarah Neiderer

Moonshot Missions

Kevin Whitney

Atlantic County Utilities Authority

Jersey Water Works measurement system (downloadable version)

In 2016, the collaborative proposed an aspirational measurement system to track its progress toward accomplishing those goals. The graphic below provides a detailed breakdown of this aspirational measurement system. It outlines indicators that help track progress, providing feedback to Jersey Water Works members and committees about whether their strategies are succeeding and where they need refinement.

Decoding the System:

Goals and Subgoals:

What we are working to achieve

Indicator:

What we will measure to track progress

By 2020:

What we want to see by 2020