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Policy and Program Coordinator

Chris Sotiro

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Policy Coordinator

Zeke Weston

Gary-Brune

Policy Manager

Gary Brune

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Patricia Dunkak

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Deandrah Cameron

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Kimberley Irby

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Director, Jersey Water Works Collaborative and Organizational Development

Paula Figueroa-Vega

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Community Outreach Manager

Mo Kinberg

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Program Coordinator

Andrea Jovie Sapal

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Director of Collaborations & Organizational Equity

Jyoti Venketraman

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

Campaign Coordinator

Rachel Bustamante

Program Officer

Alana Vega

Stephen Marks

National Director

Tom Neltnor

Assistant Professor

Siddhartha Roy

Senior Attorney, Environment

Corinne Bell

Michele Langa

Policy Director

Diane Schrauth

Program Manager

Heather Sorge

Donald Shields

Patricia Lindsay Harvey

Russ Dudley

Kendra Morris

Manager

Zach Green

Julia Cavalier

Stephanie Corso, CPC

Richard Calbi Jr. P.E., P.P.

Glenn Barnes

Scientist (retired)

Robert Tucker

Jim Nelson

Associate Professor of Practice for Water, Society and the Environment

Dan Van Abs

Director, Trenton Water Works (served until Sept. 13, 2019)

Shing-Fu Hsueh

Vice President of Operations

Tom Shroba

Executive Director

Doug O’Malley

Managing Director / Senior Fellow

Andy Kricun

State Director

Amy Goldsmith

Director

Laureen Boles

Kevin Whitney

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

Wynnie-Fred Victor Hinds

Bernadette M. Sohler

Chris Obropta

Bill Cesanek

Rosana Pedra Nobre

Lester Taylor

Christine Ballard

Kareen Adeem

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Larry Levine

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Dan Kennedy

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Lead in Drinking Water Task Force

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Every person in New Jersey deserves a safe, healthy environment that nurtures their full potential. Lead exposure thwarts this basic goal. Across New Jersey, lead in drinking water threatens human health, especially among children.
To address the risks from lead in water, Jersey Water Works, with support from The Fund for New Jersey, convened a 30-member task force of representatives from local, state, and federal governments, water utilities, academia, environmental and public health organizations, and smart growth and community advocacy groups. 
<h3 style="text-align: left;">TASK FORCE: </h3>
Beginning in December 2018, the task force worked to determine practical, cost-effective, equitable, and permanent solutions that will ensure people across the state can access drinking water free from the risks of lead.
<h3 style="text-align: left;">TWO REPORTS:</h3>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><a href="https://www.jerseywaterworks.org/resources/lead-in-drinking-water-a-permanent-solution-for-new-jersey/?committee=lead-in-drinking-water-task-force">Lead in Drinking Water: A Permanent Solution for New Jersey</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.jerseywaterworks.org/resources/lead-in-drinking-water-in-child-care-facilities/?committee=lead-in-drinking-water-task-force">Lead in Drinking Water in Child Care Facilities: Ensuring the Future for New Jersey&#8217;s Children</a></li>
</ul>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">WORK GROUP:</h3>
In 2021, a new <a href="https://www.jerseywaterworks.org/latest-news/lead-service-line-replacement-and-now-for-the-hard-part/">Lead Service Line Implementation Workgroup</a> was created to identify best practices to help water utilities comply with the statutory goal of replacing lead service lines in ten years. To learn more, check out the <a href="https://www.jerseywaterworks.org/committees/lead-in-drinking-water-task-force/resources/">resource page</a>.  
<h3 style="text-align: left;">ADVISORY COMMITTEE:</h3>
In 2024, the Task Force transitioned to an Advisory Committee focusing on specific projects and providing expertise as needed.
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With a grant from The Fund for New Jersey, staff support for the Lead in Drinking Water Task Force is provided by New Jersey Future, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that promotes sensible growth, redevelopment and infrastructure investments in the state and facilitates the Jersey Water Works collaborative.
<h4 style="text-align: left;">See Jersey Water Works <a href="https://www.jerseywaterworks.org/topics/lead/latest-news/">latest news on lead in drinking water</a>.</h4>
Questions about the JWW Lead in Drinking Water Task Force? 
Please contact Jersey Water Works’ Backbone staff Deandrah Cameron at <a href="mailto:dcameron@njfuture.org">dcameron@njfuture.org</a> or 609-262-3545 x1022.
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<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-17584 alignleft" src="https://cms.jerseywaterworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/LDW-Scorecard-36x48_V6-300x225.png" alt="" width="483" height="362" srcset="https://cms.jerseywaterworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/LDW-Scorecard-36x48_V6-300x225.png 300w, https://cms.jerseywaterworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/LDW-Scorecard-36x48_V6-1024x768.png 1024w, https://cms.jerseywaterworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/LDW-Scorecard-36x48_V6-768x576.png 768w, https://cms.jerseywaterworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/LDW-Scorecard-36x48_V6-1536x1152.png 1536w, https://cms.jerseywaterworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/LDW-Scorecard-36x48_V6-1568x1176.png 1568w, https://cms.jerseywaterworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/LDW-Scorecard-36x48_V6.png 1920w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 483px) 100vw, 483px" />
The Lead In Drinking Water Task Force recently did a 5-year review and evaluation (2019-2023). The scorecard timeline highlights the major milestones of the committee’s work. 
<a href="https://cms.jerseywaterworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/LDW-Scorecard-36x48_V6.pdf">View the scorecard here.</a>
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<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-17723 alignleft" src="https://cms.jerseywaterworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AWWA_Fresh-Ideas_Poster-42x90-3.5-by-7.5_FINAL-300x140.png" alt="" width="598" height="279" srcset="https://cms.jerseywaterworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AWWA_Fresh-Ideas_Poster-42x90-3.5-by-7.5_FINAL-300x140.png 300w, https://cms.jerseywaterworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AWWA_Fresh-Ideas_Poster-42x90-3.5-by-7.5_FINAL-1024x478.png 1024w, https://cms.jerseywaterworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AWWA_Fresh-Ideas_Poster-42x90-3.5-by-7.5_FINAL-768x358.png 768w, https://cms.jerseywaterworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AWWA_Fresh-Ideas_Poster-42x90-3.5-by-7.5_FINAL-1536x717.png 1536w, https://cms.jerseywaterworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AWWA_Fresh-Ideas_Poster-42x90-3.5-by-7.5_FINAL-1568x732.png 1568w, https://cms.jerseywaterworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AWWA_Fresh-Ideas_Poster-42x90-3.5-by-7.5_FINAL.png 1920w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 598px) 100vw, 598px" />The poster above highlights the New Jersey Water Risk Equity Map as a tool to tackle water infrastructure challenges in overburdened communities. It showcases collaborative efforts between <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/rutgersu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rutgers University</a>, Jersey Water Works, and Jersey WaterCheck and underscores each organization’s commitment to advancing equity. <a href="https://cms.jerseywaterworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AWWA_Fresh-Ideas_Poster-42x90-3.5-by-7.5_FINAL.pdf">View the full poster here.</a>
Deandrah Cameron, Policy Manager at New Jersey Future and JWW backbone staff, secured third place in the American Water Works Association (AWWA) Annual Conference and Exposition ACE2024 Fresh Ideas Poster Competition held in Anaheim, California! The competition featured students and young professionals, who won their individual AWWA Section competitions.
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Lead in Drinking Water Advisory Committee (formerly Task Force)

Climate Resilience

Water Workforce Task Force

Asset Management and Finance Committee

Education and Outreach Committee

Green Infrastructure Committee

Combined Sewer Overflow Committee

Data Advisory Committee

Jersey Water Works

Green Infrastructure Champion Program

2025 Utility Management Conference & Recognition Awards

Stormwater Utilities Subcommittee Meeting

2025 New Jersey Sustainability Summit

Debt Isn’t A Bad Word: Utilizing The Water Bank State Revolving Fund for Long-Term Infrastructure Investments webinar

Eighth Annual NJ Watershed Conference

Lessons Learned After Two Years of Accelerating Lead Service Line Replacement in New Jersey Communities

Hackensack River Nation Council meeting

Green Infrastructure and Combined Sewer Overflow Committees – Joint Meeting

Webinar: Imagine a Day Without the Water Workforce: Strengthening the Water Sector Pipeline through Entry-Level Opportunities

2024 Jersey Water Works Annual Conference

2024 Annual Membership Meeting

Safe Drinking Water Cybersecurity Grant Program – Informational Webinar

World Water Day 2024

2024 Utility Management Conference

Using the Enhanced Stormwater Control Ordinance Action to Meet New DEP Requirements

Seventh Annual Watershed Conference

2023 Jersey Water Works Annual Conference

2023 NY-NJ HEP State of the Estuary Conference

2023 New Jersey League of Municipalities

How Hackensack is Working to Reduce Flooding and Combined Sewer Overflow

ANJEC 50th Annual Environmental Congress (Virtual)

ANJEC 50th Annual Environmental Congress (In-Person)

Digital Accessibility and Inclusive Communications: Guidelines for the Water Movement

Technical Friday Series: Forever Chemical – Treatment and Remediation

One Water Summit 2023

JWW and LFNJ Joint Membership Meeting

Water Workforce Program (Info Session)

Understanding Technical Assistance for Water Systems Webinar

LSL Replacement Financing and Implementation

Technical Assistance Coffee Chat for New Jersey Coastal Communities

2nd Environmental Summit South Ward Environmental Justice

2023 Camden Environmental Summit

Construction Industry Career Day (open to high school students)

Construction Industry Career Day (open to the public)

NJ Water Environment Association Conference and Exposition

New Jersey Planning and Redevelopment Conference

New Jersey Sustainability Summit

American Water Works Association New Jersey Annual Conference

Sixth Annual Watershed Conference

State Revolving Funds and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding – Webinar

Leveraging Capital Markets to Accelerate Lead Service Line Replacements

Tracking Pollution in the Delaware Basin: Tools for Community Action

Asset Management & Finance Committee

Climate Resilience Committee

Featured Articles

Jersey Water Works in the News

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People in a Conference

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Affordability

Community Engagement and Partnerships

Data

Drinking Water

Green Infrastructure/Stormwater Management

Lead

Paying for Water Infrastructure

Smart CSO Control Plans

Wastewater

Workforce

Guides & Toolkits

Fact Sheets

Case Study

Work Plans

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Basic Information

Infographics & Presentations

Reports & Recommendations

<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="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. </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Host one &#8220;Water Workforce Briefing&#8221; meeting to continue uplifting what is happening in New Jersey, what is working, and identify the gaps. </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Publish a case study to highlight the Water Workforce Utility Program. </li>
</ol>

<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Release the sixth update of JWC metrics, including relevant data updates as needed.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">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.</li>
</ol>

<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">⁠Convening the Lead Service Line Implementation Workgroup: Facilitating guidance and best practices for New Jersey water systems</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Supporting Local Policy Work: Collaborate with Lead-Free NJ Community Hubs to inform and advance statewide implementation of lead service line</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">⁠Supporting Clean Drinking Water: Ensuring safe water in schools and childcare facilities, elevating recommendations from the childcare report.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Partner with Jersey WaterCheck to update the lead resource page and publish a data report on the progress of LSL replacements in NJ.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Partner with the New Jersey Water Association to offer credits for LSL workshops.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">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). </li>
</ol>

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.

<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="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. </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Identify and engage with at least two wastewater utilities related to their work on CSOs to gain insight, and elevate utility-level best practices. </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">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.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">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. </li>
</ol>

<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Advance implementation of green infrastructure by highlighting local educational or volunteer opportunities and organize at least one in-person meeting/GI tour.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Elevate two green infrastructure success story examples to showcase effective GI practices to inspire and educate others.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Provide Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) and retrofit guidance for municipalities.</li>
</ol>

<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Host at least three education events/meetings to enhance understanding of debt, shared services, collaboration, climate resilience, and SRF funding/application processes. </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Promote best practices for innovative low-income discount programs to advance water affordability. </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Review and comment on the FY 2025/FY 2026 Intended Use Plan and other public comment opportunities aligned with committee goals. </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Encourage municipalities to consider creating stormwater utilities (facilitated by the Stormwater Utility Subcommittee)
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<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">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. </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Organize a webinar highlighting case studies from municipalities on feasibility studies.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">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.</li>
</ul>
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</ol>

Under Former Community Engagement Committee
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Produce public participation materials for the new municipal separate storm sewer (MS4) permit.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Develop a strategic communications plan that identifies event-oriented social media campaigns and tools for committee members to use to engage stakeholders in water infrastructure issues.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Provide tools and resources needed by CSO permit holders to address public participation requirements.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Compile and share a collection of educational curricula about water infrastructure.</li>
</ol>

Under Former Municipal Outreach Committee
<ol class="li-mb-half">
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Continue outreach for Mayoral Proclamations and City Council Resolutions.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Provide technical training for decision makers and their staff on water infrastructure and best management practices.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Build awareness of Jersey Water Works and water infrastructure through a strong presence at external events with a municipal audience.</li>
</ol>
Under Former Best Practices Committee
<ol class="li-mb-half">
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Develop two actions for the Sustainable Jersey certification program: asset management and a water loss audit.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Educate utilities about NJ A.I.M.S. and promote uptake through a presence at utility, municipal, and trade association conferences.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Launch a recognition program for utilities that adopt N.J.A.1.M.S. practices through partnerships with water infrastructure trade associations.</li>
</ol>
Under Former Community Engagement Committee
<ol class="li-mb-half">
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Develop and enhance educational materials and actions for community members and community-based organizations.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Develop a list of specific stakeholders in communities, targeting areas that are perceived to have fewer potential stakeholders. Develop and implement strategy for communicating with identified stakeholders.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Develop &#8220;universal&#8221; public participation materials for permittees that would outline best practices and checklist of potential stakeholders for outreach and supplemental teams.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Create a network for green infrastructure Municipal Action Teams to share best practices and support and expand work.</li>
</ol>

Under Former Municipal Outreach Committee
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Support the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association Water Infrastructure Policy Committee in developing state policy recommendations on water infrastructure and announcing them at a fall event.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Partner with the New Jersey League of Municipalities and other Jersey Water Works members to provide an educational webinar series for municipal officials.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Encourage partners to host events and conferences that include water-related sessions and invite state and local officials to participate.</li>
</ol>
Under Former Best Practices Committee
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Examine the legal impediments to establishing water infrastructure ratepayer assistance programs in New Jersey and identify policy recommendations to overcome them.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Publish a report on “Cost Effective Investments for Water Infrastructure” and host an event to discuss implementation.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Host educational events that utilize the framework provided by the NJ AIMS Guide, including training on water loss audits.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Propose a completed Asset Management “action” for the Sustainable Jersey certification program.</li>
</ol>

<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Facilitate the development of a case study of the fiscal implications of asset management at Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Develop an on-line water infrastructure finance clearinghouse with references, resources and links to the following: grant/funding resources, innovative financing methods. alternative project delivery structures, New Jersey enabling statutes.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Assess NJEIT financed integrated green and green infrastructure stormwater management projects that feature successful designs and financing applications and highlight intervention points and advocacy efforts that can improve the financing process and ultimately increase the number of projects funded.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Benchmark wastewater and water-supply utility emergency repair costs.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Review and catalog existing state water-related household assistance programs.</li>
</ol>

<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Publish case studies on the financial benefits of asset management for drinking water and wastewater utilities.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Assess the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust green infrastructure financing program to identify ways to improve applicant success at obtaining funding.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Publish a national survey of state-level initiatives to fund water infrastructure.</li>
</ol>

<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Develop two Sustainable Jersey actions for green infrastructure (planning and installation).</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Better understand how and which green infrastructure techniques can be used in or next to parks that can control stormwater generated elsewhere under existing regulations and identify necessary modifications to state controls.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Review existing efforts and need for a database of green infrastructure installations and monitoring data in NJ.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Encourage NJ and local DOTs to support green infrastructure best practices on green streets (e.g., right-of-way bioswales) by identifying likely applications, performance, and permitting requirements that could be adopted by the state, counties and/or municipalities.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Develop green infrastructure educational materials for the construction and development industries, such as a design charrette that explores the use of various GI techniques.</li>
</ol>

<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Advance implementation of “green streets” by recommending policy changes, promoting state and federal pilot projects and expanding the complete streets “action” in the Sustainable Jersey certification program.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Partner with Jersey Water Works members to host green infrastructure trainings for key stakeholders.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Recommend ways to conduct an inventory of green infrastructure installations and their performance.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Facilitate community advocacy for green infrastructure by assessing stakeholders’ needs for green infrastructure tools and training and developing solutions to fill the gaps.</li>
</ol>

<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Advance implementation of “green streets” by recommending policy changes, promoting state and federal pilot projects, and expanding the complete streets “action” in the Sustainable Jersey certification program.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Partner with Jersey Water Works members to host green infrastructure trainings for key stakeholders.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Recommend ways to conduct an inventory of green infrastructure installations and their performance.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Facilitate community advocacy for green infrastructure by assessing stakeholders’ needs for green infrastructure tools and training and developing solutions to fill the gaps.</li>
</ol>

<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Host or participate in two events to promote water workforce development, such as running facility tours, career days, or job fairs, and share supporting materials.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Make existing informational resources on water infrastructure more accessible for residents and other stakeholders by creating a new Jersey Water Works website interface.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Implement a pilot schools program in Robbinsville to educate grade-school students on water infrastructure and share lessons learned.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Host or participate in at least two national water infrastructure awareness events such as Infrastructure Week and Imagine a Day Without Water and amplify those efforts through Jersey Water Works’ communications platforms.</li>
</ol>
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<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Examine the legal impediments to establishing water infrastructure ratepayer assistance programs in New Jersey and identify policy recommendations to overcome them.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Publish a report on “Cost Effective Investments for Water Infrastructure” and host an event to discuss implementation.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Host educational events that utilize the framework provided by the NJ AIMS Guide, including training on water loss audits.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Propose a completed Asset Management “action” for the Sustainable Jersey certification program.</li>
</ol>

<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Advance water and sewer affordability for low-income customers by:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">(a) Finalizing and issuing a white paper with a menu of state policy options to ensure affordability.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">(b) Establishing a consensus methodology for measuring affordability issues, using it to assess New Jersey communities, and issuing a report on the benchmark findings.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Issue a baseline assessment of drinking water utility capital investments in New Jersey.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Review and issue comments on state government proposals, including New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection guidance for stormwater utilities, efforts to require asset management for wastewater systems, and Water Quality Accountability Act recommendations.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Recommend, in partnership with industry groups, level-of-service goals for use with asset management programs.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Represent Jersey Water Works and promote its work at industry and partner conferences and workshops, in coordination with backbone staff.</li>
</ol>

<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Recruit a diverse group of participants and facilitate a second cohort for the Water Workforce Development Program at Hudson County Community College (leveraging funds by Bank of America and PACE grant). </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Recommend ways to increase or enhance entry level opportunities, such as internships, in the water sector by sharing resources and offering one educational webinar or workshop.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Update the 2021 <a href="https://www.jerseywaterworks.org/resources/nj-water-workforce-training-program-inventory/">workforce program inventory</a> to be published by April 2024. </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Create a new inventory that highlights at least ten K-12 curriculums/programs that support conversations around water, climate resilience, and green infrastructure with students. </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Create a campaign to increase awareness about careers in the water sector and connect those to national water awareness days. </li>
</ol>

<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Curate information about resources and promising practices to promote via JWW newsletters, website, and committee meetings. This will include promoting the EPA’s Creating Resilient Water Utilities Tool (CRWU) and regular “show and tell” committee agenda items. </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Review and develop comments on the Resilient Environments and Landscapes (REAL) portion of the New Jersey Protecting Against Climate Threat (NJ PACT) rules. </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Create or find a visual roadmap showing the continuum of least to most climate-resilient water utilities. Utilize that information to host a session for local government decision-makers focused on building climate resilience, linking to operational and capital needs, and showing a path toward funding for implementation. Potential avenues for the session include the JWW Membership Meeting or Annual Conference, the League of Municipalities Conference, the ANJEC Environmental Congress, and/or RPA’s annual conference.  </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Explore the interest for existing programs (like GI champions, Green Teams, and Environmental Commissioners) to create climate resilience champions. Create guidance to establish climate resilience champions.</li>
</ol>

<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Review and develop comments on the proposed State Revolving Fund Year 2023 (SRFY 25) Water Infrastructure Investment Plan, which supports the goal of &#8220;Effective and Financially Sustainable Systems&#8221;. This aims to ensure that operating budgets and capital investment are adequate and affordable, resulting in systems that operate efficiently and in a state of good repair (<a href="https://www.jerseywaterworks.org/resources/jersey-water-works-comments-on-the-sfy25-proposed-intended-use-plans/">completed</a>).</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Educate legislative staff and decision makers about congressionally directed funding (CDF), formerly known as earmarks, by sharing information via letter, newsletters, and social media. </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Launch a research/study on the long-term benefits of investing in water infrastructure.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Host a webinar highlighting strategies to create equitable rate structures that address low-income affordability issues while providing financial benefits to the utility, recruit at least one utility, and include community voices. </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Encourage municipalities to consider creating stormwater utilities (facilitated by the Stormwater Utility Subcommittee)
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">Improve communications around Stormwater Utilities (SWUs).
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="3">Issue a 2-4 minute Informational Video.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="3">Update the 2021 paper entitled “Stormwater Utilities Can Incentivize Green Infrastructure”.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="3">Explore existing or create new SWU resources for combined sewer overflow (CSO) communities.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="3">Promote the SWU Resource Center. </li>
</ol>
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">Support the exploration of a regional approach to operationalizing Stormwater Utilities in New Jersey. </li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
&nbsp;

<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Define scope of work for and hire consultants under Bank of America grant by March 2023.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Create and facilitate a utility pilot water workforce program in partnership with one educational institution by December 2023.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Collaborate to create a water workforce pathway with aligned curriculum through the NJ Pathways to Career Opportunities initiative led by the NJ Council of County Colleges.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Increase visibility to the water workforce sector and continue cultivating partnerships. </li>
</ol>

<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Build a visual roadmap showing the continuum of least to most resilient water utilities regarding flooding. Conduct utility interviews to inform the product.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Collaborate with the Green Infrastructure Committee to host a session for local government decision-makers focused on building climate resilience, utilizing the roadmap item, linking to operational and capital needs, and showing a path towards funding for implementation.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Gather input across the collaborative, especially from water utilities, on the Resilient Environments and Landscapes (REAL) portion of the NJ PACT rules once they are released and submit recommendations during the public comment period.</li>
</ol>

<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Advance water and wastewater affordability for low-income customers by:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">Raising awareness of the Low Income Household Water Assistance (LIHWAP) Program to increase participation.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">Promoting and sharing the findings of the study, A New Jersey Affordability Methodology and Assessment for Drinking Water and Sewer Utility Costs.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">Creating a resource guide for NJ water/wastewater systems to develop local affordability solutions, including in support of new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines under the Clean Water Act.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">Working with New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to develop technical assistance and planning grants to seed innovative utility level affordability ideas in NJ.</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Provide feedback on the NJDEP implementation of the Water Quality Accountability Act (WQAA) rules (to be issued in 2023). </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Expand information about all available funding dollars by developing an easy to understand factsheet. </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Submit comments on the proposed SRFY 24 Water Infrastructure Investment Plan. (This item has already been completed.)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Encourage municipalities to consider creating stormwater utilities by: 
<ol>
<li aria-level="1">Finalizing an educational video explaining the need for and benefits of a stormwater utility. </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">Providing technical assistance office hours through the stormwater utilities subcommittee meeting.</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
&nbsp;

<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Host an information session for utility staff and local government decision-makers that will include case studies featuring the successful use of federal or state funds on climate resilience projects.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Create a proposal for a visual roadmap showing the continuum from least to most resilient water utilities, as well as on-ramps for each phase, and explore opportunities for funding to build it out.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Gather input across the collaborative, especially from water utilities, on the NJ PACT rules after they are released and submit recommendations during the public comment period.</li>
</ol>

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Lead in Drinking Water Advisory Committee (formerly Task Force)

Members

Backbone Staff