Like most states in the Delaware River watershed, New Jersey has aging water infrastructure that requires significant funding to address.  CDRW members have been able to leverage funding opportunities at the federal level to drive investments in local communities to ensure drinking water is safe, protect against flooding, and reduce combined sewer overflows.

CDRW members have actively participated in the development of a statewide Water Infrastructure Investment Plan funded, in part, by federal dollars from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. A well-funded program, that prioritizes overburdened communities, will provide safe drinking water, well-managed flood and stormwaters, and, in turn, cleaner waterways.

 As climate change leads to greater threats to New Jersey communities and greater needs for water infrastructure in the state, the Coalition will also push for upgrades that address climate change and climate resiliency.

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The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) is a regulatory body operated by the four basin states and the federal government. The Commission monitors water quality, conducts resource planning, and manages drinking water supply for over 13.3 million people.

The DRBC was formed in 1988 when the states and the federal government reached an agreement that they would allocate sufficient funds to the commission each year to support the Commission’s work and protect the well-being of the Delaware River Basin and the communities within it.

CDRW and its partners seek to continue their recent success in securing New Jersey’s “fair share” contribution to the Delaware River Basin Commission of $893,000 in the state budget with the State’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget.

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New Jersey’s DEP is responsible for the implementation of Clean Water Act requirements. Some regulatory gaps and loopholes within the program’s administration threaten water quality in the state and in downstream communities.  Coalition partners are working to promote New Jersey water quality regulations and policies that protect headwaters, surface and groundwater, consider cumulative impacts of discharges on local waterways, and ensure the designated use and protection of waterways matches their actual use.

New Jersey adopted a new Inland Flood Protection rule in 2023 that requires stormwater best Management Practices (BMPs) be designed to manage runoff for both today’s storms and future storms along New Jersey’s non-tidal waterways.  Additionally, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection proposed a rule in the summer of 2024 to improve resilience along New Jersey’s coastline due to the impacts of climate change.  The proposed rules aim to improve water quality and reduce flooding by adding stormwater management practices and encouraging nature-based solutions.

The Coalition continues to promote New Jersey water quality regulations including through advocacy around Freshwater Wetlands Rules, Water Quality Management Plan, and consistency determinations for the New Jersey Highlands, which will lead to overall quality improvements in the Delaware River Watershed and in watersheds state-wide.

The Highlands Council and the Pinelands Commission are responsible for governing the New Jersey Highlands and Pinelands, ensuring the protection of the two major drinking water sources in the state. These government entities are defined by the power and people they are given to manage the resources. As a fierce advocate for water quality, CDRW and its members are supporting the confirmation of qualified candidates to serve on the Highlands Council and Pinelands Commission, supporting these critical natural resource areas and their respective Regional Master Plan and Comprehensive Master Plan.

It continues to become abundantly clear that many communities in New Jersey are at great risk as symptoms of climate change have included sea level rise, greater storm intensity, and increased flooding.  In January 2024, Governor Murphy signed legislation that requires hazard mitigation plans to include climate change-related threat assessments and hazard prevention and mitigation strategies.  This law also includes the requirement for any Hazard Mitigation Plan to include a social vulnerability assessment that evaluates how, and to what extent, socially vulnerable and underserved communities may be disproportionately impacted by climate change-related natural hazards.

In 2023, CDRW members secured passage of legislation that requires landlords and sellers of real property to make certain disclosures concerning known and potential flood risks.  The law, which took effect in March 2024, requires purchasers and renters to receive information or notice on flood risk for the property.

New Jersey adopted regulations in April of 2023 to implement the groundbreaking Environmental Justice law that was signed by the Governor in 2020.  The law requires the NJ Department of Environmental Protection to evaluate environmental and public health impacts of certain facilities on overburdened communities when reviewing certain applications and allows the agency to deny permits for new facilities that cannot avoid disproportionate impacts on overburdened communities or serve a compelling public interest.

The coalition has hosted speakers to discuss environmental justice and how CDRW members can help realize the potential of the environmental justice law and increase access to the outdoors in overburdened communities.