Committing to clean water, for future generations and today.

Expanding investment in our water infrastructure:

 

AT LEAST $77 BILLION IS NEEDED OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS

New Jersey is receiving approximately $1 billion total from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Unless Congress takes additional action, SFY27 will be the last year New Jersey receives BIL funding, leaving the state with an estimated $274 million in water infrastructure funding reductions next year.

Over the last two budget cycles, the Murphy Administration cut the state match to federal water infrastructure funding from $60 million in SFY24 to $48 million in SFY26. The Governor’s current proposed budget for SFY27 allots $53 million. The Clean Water, Healthy Families, Good Jobs Campaign asks that the Sherrill-Caldwell Administration and the Legislature restore state funding for water infrastructure investments to $60 million.

An Estimated 130 Million Gallons of Treated Drinking Water are Lost Every Day

Many of the pipes that carry drinking water to our homes, businesses, and schools haven’t been upgraded in decades or— in some cases—since the Civil War. When we lose drinking water to leaky pipes, ratepayers are left footing the bill.

Water Affordability is Already a Problem, and Getting Worse

Across the country, 9–15% of households face unaffordable water bills. In New Jersey, an estimated one-fifth of households, across cities, suburbs, and rural towns, struggle to afford water and sewer bills. Major floods are occurring more frequently in NJ and are worsened by aging sewers that cannot handle increased flow from extreme weather, leading to combined sewer overflow events.

Lead and PFAs Threaten Our Health

Lead and chemicals, like PFAs, threaten the health of our families. Making a substantial investment in our water infrastructure now is crucial to ensuring we have a brighter future ahead. 

 

Beyond fully funding the state match for water infrastructure, the state can take the following actions:

  1. Create a dedicated state funding source for water infrastructure improvements, particularly for lead in drinking water and combined sewer overflows. Dedicated state funding will help keep local water rates affordable.

  2. Defend against any potential cuts to federal funding for New Jersey’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.

  3. Advance policies and practices that promote access to water infrastructure funding and financing by water systems serving overburdened communities to help them affordably eliminate combined sewer overflows, replace lead service lines, and reduce local flooding.

  4. Continue providing technical assistance to water utilities through the New Jersey Water Bank.