Steve Jasiecki
TRENTON – New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette Thursday, Jan. 20 announced the launch of the state’s Water Infrastructure Investment Plan. This innovative effort aims to better understand and resolve water infrastructure challenges plaguing New Jersey communities and utilities through short- and long-term investments that will create good-paying jobs while delivering safe, reliable drinking water, reducing flooding and improving the quality of New Jersey’s waterways.
Over the next three months, the DEP and the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank will engage with a broad array of stakeholders in developing the Water Infrastructure Investment Plan parameters for the first of a five-year period. Direct engagement with communities and utilities about their water needs and challenges will enable DEP to set project priorities and establish the funding packages that will best support water system operators in upgrading drinking water, stormwater and wastewater infrastructure throughout the state.
The WIIP will be fueled by new federal funding under the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and continuing state appropriations championed by Governor Phil Murphy and the New Jersey Legislature.
“This Water Infrastructure Investment Plan reaffirms our commitment to modernize New Jersey’s aging water infrastructure and deliver safe drinking water to our residents,” Gov. Phil Murphy said. “This once-in-a-generation opportunity allows New Jerseyans to participate in the planning process to shape and better their communities through these investments. I am grateful for the work of President Biden and our Congressional delegation to ensure that New Jersey receives billions of dollars for these critical water infrastructure projects while advancing environmental justice.”
“By coming together to shape the Wastewater Infrastructure Investment Plan, we can better deliver what New Jersey residents deserve and expect: safe drinking water when they turn on the tap, streets and businesses not so easily overcome with floodwaters, and waterways that are clean and vibrant,” LaTourette said. “This is our moment to make once-in-a-generation investments that will create jobs improving our public and environmental health, while motivating long-term term growth in communities that our infrastructure investments will uplift and support. My DEP colleagues and I are inviting every New Jersey community and water utility to join us in this exciting work.”
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is the single largest investment in our nation’s water infrastructure ever, providing New Jersey with $169 million this year for drinking water, stormwater, and wastewater infrastructure improvement projects. This is the first of five years of investment through the law.
The trillion-dollar Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, known more commonly as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, was signed by President Joe Biden on Nov. 15. This sweeping legislation provides federal funds to rebuild America’s roads, bridges, railroads, and water infrastructure while advancing environmental justice and tackling climate change – core principals of the Murphy Administration.
“My community’s way of life depends on efficient and effective water infrastructure,” 2nd District U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew said. “It is time for New Jersey and the United States to invest in critical infrastructure like water treatment and stormwater management systems. I will do everything I can to make sure we strengthen South Jersey through these investments.”
For 2022—the first of five allotments through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – New Jersey will receive:
- $73.3 million for any eligible Clean Water State Revolving Fund project
- $30.6 million for any eligible Drinking Water State Revolving Fund project
- $48.3 million to address drinking water lead service line replacements
- $12.9 million to address contaminants of emerging concern, such as PFAS in drinking water
- $3.8 million to address contaminants of emerging concern in wastewater.
The DEP is kicking off the WIIP development effort with a series of stakeholder sessions beginning Jan. 24 that will gather input from interested parties on the broad goals of WIIP. The sessions will help the DEP develop criteria for prioritizing drinking water and clean water infrastructure projects to be funded through an initial investment of $169 million provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The process will culminate in the adoption of a WIIP for State Fiscal Year 2023/Federal Fiscal Year 2022.
During the forthcoming engagement sessions, attendees will have the opportunity to share their water infrastructure needs and challenges and shape WIIP, criteria including project priority rankings, affordability criteria, funding packages, and project types that qualify for principal forgiveness. The sessions will also include discussions on the allocation of principal forgiveness and funding packages to address lead, PFAS, climate change, and sea-level rise.
The session schedule is as follows:
- Elected officials, including mayors and county officials, Jan. 24 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Register here
- Potential applicants, professional organizations and other agencies, Jan. 24, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Register Here
- Environmental Justice advocates, non-governmental organizations and interested members of the public, Jan. 27 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Register Here
For a series of introductory videos and other information, visit www.nj.gov/dep/wiip
