Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette announced the release of the final 2024 New Jersey Statewide Water Supply Plan during Climate Week. This plan is the first to assess water supply challenges from climate change and offer resilience solutions. The plan concludes that New Jersey has adequate water supply under normal conditions but must continue mitigating threats from climate change, aging infrastructure, and emerging contaminants.
“The Statewide Water Supply Plan plays a critical role to inform local water supply management decisions by presenting the newest science to better prepare us for the challenges brought on by our changing climate,” said Commissioner LaTourette. “In addition to upgrading our aging infrastructure, a healthy water supply is dependent on constant reevaluation of how we can use water more efficiently to protect it for future generations.”
The plan addresses temperature, precipitation, and sea-level changes impacting water quantity and quality. It also examines emerging contaminants' effects on water supply.
“New Jersey’s climate is changing. From increased temperatures to sea-level rise, these climate impacts can pose a threat to our water supplies if not properly addressed by proactive planning, management, and permitting,” said State Geologist Steven Domber.
Following a 60-day public comment period after the draft plan's release in February 2024, DEP held two public meetings and incorporated feedback before finalizing the plan. Both the plan and a summary response report are available online.
A new interactive website provides key information from the plan for various audiences including residential users and professionals. The site will be updated as new data becomes available.
The Water Supply Management Act directs DEP to prepare this plan, analyze data, examine risks, study projections, and recommend effective management strategies. The initial version was adopted in 1982 with several updates since then; major revisions occurred in 1996 and 2017.
The state faced significant challenges in recent years including low precipitation leading to a Drought Watch in summer 2022 and aging infrastructure failures resulting in massive water main breaks. Contaminants like PFAS also posed issues alongside harmful algal blooms worsened by warm temperatures.
To ensure ample reliable supplies of safe drinking water now and in future years while balancing human uses with ecological needs across different regions of New Jersey’s diverse landscape – all covered within Chapter Eight among other sections throughout its pages - recommended action areas include:
- Hydrologic Data Monitoring Models Assessments
- Climate Change Water Availability Research Modeling
- Infrastructure Resilience Recommendations
- Regional Statewide Planning Protection
- Policy Modernization Asset Management Resilience
Public outreach remains vital through campaigns like "Our Water’s Worth It," emphasizing clean waters' importance from drinking sources supporting vibrant ecosystems recreational health places alike alongside reducing potential lead exposure risks found within tap systems themselves.
Additionally today saw U.S Climate Alliance launch Governors’ Workforce Initiative growing career pathways clean energy fields strengthening diversity training million apprenticeships by2035across member states territories announced event featuring Governor Kathy Hochul Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham Jay Inslee White House National Advisor Ali Zaidi saying: “We need climate-ready workforce EV technicians heat pump installers solar panel manufacturers meet carbon reduction goals."
Governor Hochul stated: “In New York showing how action economic growth go hand-in-hand proud collaborating creating jobs future building equitable resilient economy skilled well-prepared workforce drive innovation create businesses ensure sustainable resilient country.”
Governor Grisham added: "Executive Order conjunction Alliance help ensure workers backgrounds access skills training high-quality jobs."
Governor Inslee noted: "Aligning ambitious policies development million poised good-paying union serving communities strengthening economies."
Zaidi highlighted President Biden Harris leadership lowering barriers opportunity costs catalyzing manufacturing creating jobs America last year adding over250000energy twice fast sector momentum continues announcement capitalize rebuilding nation’s infrastructure communities industrial strength".
Historic federal investments ambitious state actions expanding good-paying union anticipated coming years under Biden-Harris administration Inflation Reduction Act Infrastructure Investment Jobs Act includes quality not only clean energy technology sectors wind solar electric vehicles efficiency batteries fields associated resilience natural solutions collectively supporting completion Registered Apprenticeship programs providing valuable proven career pathway empowering earn learn key occupations industries advancing collective goals boosting job ensuring employment pathways lead paying opportunities underserved promoting stackable portable credentials building transferable skills reskilling upskilling strengthening economic mobility full list goals found here multi-state cohorts focus-demand fields Clean Energy Fuels Technologies Michigan New Jersey Buildings Industry Maine Massachusetts Communities Lands Arizona Vermont deploying natural stewardship led Secretariat customizing efforts individual needs achieving collaborative partners substantial expertise experience work federal-state collaborations members Administration May focused mobilizing diverse Additional information Initiative found here.
