Current Campaigns, Initiatives & Calls To Action
What Does It Take to Be a CSO Leader In Your Town?
Over the summer, the Sewage-Free Streets and Rivers (SFSR) campaign graduated its fourth cohort of Community Leadership Action Program (CLAP) members. Held over five sessions from June to August, the participating individuals were community members from the combined sewer overflow (CSO) communities of Jersey City and North Bergen, who wanted to increase their understanding of the environmental impacts of CSOs, enhance their leadership and advocacy skills, and explore how the issue of CSOs can intersect with the work they do for their communities.
If you would like to be considered for our next cohort in 2026, email [email protected] with the subject line – CLAP 2026.
SFSR Submitted Public Comments for the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission’s Draft CSO Permits!
In March, NJDEP released the draft Combined Sewer Overflow permits for eight municipalities within the PVSC service region, including Bayonne, East Newark, Harrison, Jersey City, Kearny, Newark, North Bergen, and Paterson.
Notice of this draft permit action appeared on the Division of Water Quality’s website at www.nj.gov/dep/dwq, in The Herald News and Star Ledger, and in the March 19, 2025 DEP Bulletin. The DEP Bulletin is available on the internet at http://www.state.nj.us/dep/
View the SFSR comments here.
View the recording of our April 8 workshop, where we highlighted key recommendations for the permit, the importance of public engagement, and best practices for advocating to NJDEP.
Not sure if you live in a town or city with a combined sewer system?
Check out the map below with the 21 NJ affected communities.
CSO Communities in New Jersey
By working together, we can prevent sewers from overflowing and keep sewage out of our streets, basements, and waterways. Let’s make sure the children in our communities grow up in a healthier, greener environment and our streets and businesses remain safe and clean.
