Coalition Statement on DEP Intended Use Plan
The Clean Water, Healthy Families, Good Jobs campaign celebrates the release of the final amendments to the Drinking Water and Clean Water Final Intended Use Plan (IUP) by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection. The amendments designate the type of projects that are eligible to apply for $300 million of the American Rescue Plan funds that were allocated in the recent state budget for water infrastructure and is an important step to getting the money out to New Jersey communities.
This funding will go towards important projects that address hazardous flooding from combined sewer overflows, drinking water infrastructure resilience, and contaminants in private wells. These capital investments will result in long-term improvements in public health and local jobs across New Jersey.
However, more funding is needed for replacement of lead service lines, remediating chemical contamination in drinking water supplies, and upgrading stormwater systems. The Clean Water, Healthy Families, Good Jobs campaign urges Governor Murphy and the Legislature to prioritize these water infrastructure needs and allocate an additional $700 million for water infrastructure by using all of the resources available, including New Jersey’s remaining share of American Rescue Plan (ARP) dollars. Using ARP funds allows New Jersey to make a transformational investment in water infrastructure without costing New Jersey taxpayers and ratepayers extra money.
As we have seen in the City of Newark, lead service line replacement can move quickly when the money is available - which is exactly the opportunity the ARP funding presents.
This investment would represent a truly transformational investment in the health of New Jersey’s families, our environment and economy by accelerating the removal of lead service lines, significantly jumpstarting the elimination of “forever chemicals” from our drinking water and providing the funding needed to fix combined sewer systems and improve stormwater management.