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As we entered the new year, New Jersey passed a quiet yet long-awaited milestone in its journey toward cleaner and healthier waterways for all New Jerseyans. All combined sewer overflow Long-Term Control Plans (LTCPs) and the associated five-year permits have now been released and commented on. Six out of the seven regional plans have been finalized.

This process has been a multi-phase and multi-year effort. From 2019 to 2021, this was the phase during which permittees submitted their LTCPs, and from December 2022 to 2025, draft permits were released for public comment and finalized. These permits and the structured CSO implementation process are crucial for impacted community members to influence policy and infrastructure decisions that affect flooding in their overburdened neighborhoods and pollution in their water bodies. 

The Sewage-Free Streets and Rivers (SFSR) Campaign and its partners played a crucial role in this regulatory review process. Over these past three years, SFSR partners have reviewed and submitted recommendations on the seven regional draft permits released by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). The comments focused on the following issues:

• Timing, Financing, and Affordability 
• Public Health: Notifications 
• Strong Public Engagement 
• Adapting to Climate Change and Updating Models 
• Construction, Operations, and Maintenance: Transparency and Enforcement
• Maximizing High-Impact Green Infrastructure 

Thank you to the following individuals who have participated in the permit review team over the last three years: Michele Langa, Vin Rubino, Nicole Miller, Dan Van Abs, Andy Kricun, Jose Amarante, Amy Goldsmith, Rosana Pedra Nobre, and Chris Obropta.

Our Recommendations

Overall, the review team found that NJDEP and the permit holders incorporated stringent requirements in certain areas, including public participation, resilient design standards, and infrastructure maintenance. Some of these requirements directly resulted from prior advocacy during the LTCP process and earlier regional permit releases. However, the team identified areas that needed strengthening across the permits, including affordability, shortening timelines, diversifying funding sources, reevaluating project sequencing, and ensuring meaningful community participation.

Final CSO permits have been issued for six regions, based on the draft permits and written and oral comments submitted. The seventh and final region, comprising the Middlesex County Utilities Authority and the City of Perth Amboy, had its draft permits released in November 2025, followed by a comment period that closed on January 5, 2026. Although the final plans have yet to be finalized, we recognize the plan submissions and the extensive review process as a significant milestone and a step forward toward cleaner, healthier waterways for all New Jerseyans. 

While the permit review process may have ended, the work does not end here.

What Comes Next?

With the staggered release of the regional CSO permits completed, New Jersey has shifted to an implementation phase. Here are the main things we will be monitoring:

1. Transparency and accountability. Ensuring the transparency of implementation schedules and projects, as well as accountability for permittees meeting their requirements, will take precedence for SFSR and its partners. Accountability around finalized permits will require monitoring by impacted community members and grassroots organizations.
2. Public engagement and participation. Even after permits are finalized, advocacy will be necessary to engage with municipalities directly and, in partnership with community organizations, to ensure the public is involved and participating on the NJDEP-required CSO Supplemental Teams. The CSO Supplemental Teams serve as a mechanism for community members to provide input and hold permit holders accountable for timelines and results.
3. Equitable funding and affordability. Ongoing advocacy to ensure these permit holders explore equitable funding structures and affordable financing opportunities for low-income ratepayers.

As SFSR continues to raise awareness and educate more people about CSOs and accountability in implementation, we also look forward to 2029, when the CSO permits will be up for renewal. 

The Big Takeaway: We Cannot Do This Alone

Throughout this process, the SFSR campaign has met and expanded connections with community groups on the ground in the CSO communities of Camden, Jersey City, Newark, Perth Amboy, and Paterson. SFSR successfully provided them with resources on how to best engage during the public hearings and comment period, working toward building collective knowledge.

SFSR recognizes that local groups are continuously educating their communities on CSOs and flood mitigation efforts. As a statewide campaign working within the 21 CSO communities, we enter these spaces, often as outsiders, with respect for the boundaries we traverse and authenticity in our relationship-building efforts. Our hyper-local partners on the ground act as the bridge between the communities they serve and us. SFSR is committed to transparency and to co-creating programs with and for community members that are responsive to their communities’ specific needs.

Stay Updated on SFSR and Join Your Local CSO Supplemental Team!

Join the SFSR Campaign! With increased precipitation impacting CSO communities, now is the time to join the Sewage-Free Streets and Rivers campaign to keep sewage and dirty wastewater out of our waterways, streets, and basements. Sign up to receive the latest combined sewer overflow developments! 

CSO Supplemental Team Information: The permittees listed below have finalized their permits and established their CSO Supplemental Teams. SFSR and its local partners are monitoring the progress of permit implementation and attending the CSO Supplemental teams for North Hudson Sewerage Authority (NHSA) and Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority (CCMUA). 

• • NHSA Long Term Control Plan Community Advisory Board webpage: https://www.nhudsonsa.com/csoltcp
  • CCMUA Long Term Control Plan and Supplemental Team webpage: https://www.ccmua.org/combined-sewer-overflow/
  • More websites will be added as the CSO Supplemental Teams form.

Related Articles and Resources

• SFSR Comment Letters
• April 8, 2025 Public Workshop Recording
• CSO Fact Sheets
• JWW 10-Year Reflection on CSOs

 

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. 

Themes that Guided Our Conversations

The program explored several themes that helped participants understand the CSO issue, how it interconnects with other environmental justice issues, and reflect on their personal advocacy journey.

1. Why is my city flooding? – Participants learn the basics of the CSO issue, including the historical context, environmental impacts, and progress made to addressing it so far.
2. The Story of Self: Communicating your story effectively – Explores their core values, experiences, and motivations for getting involved in this type of work. It highlights the importance of community voice and the role it has on influencing CSO solutions.
3. The Importance of Community Organizing – We cannot do this work alone. The focus for this session in on the importance of partnerships and cross-collaboration between local community groups and statewide collaboratives/organizations. 
4. Understanding Water Policy – The basics of water policy and what it takes to effect change at different levels, from state to local, to national.
5. Leadership in Action – Discussions on how participants can continue their personal advocacy in solving CSO solutions.

Key Takeaways from the Program

“I found this program expanded my knowledge about CSOs and also provided ‘story’ techniques for advocacy in this and other areas. I found the in-person sessions most effective, especially Session 5, in which there was great interaction between speakers and students.” – Maureen Crowley, Jersey City

“I’ve learned about CSOs and underground sewage issues. This program has opened my eyes to overlooked issues. I will continue to educate people on this matter, lead by example, and pass on this information to my camp children.” – Steven Felton, Jersey City

“I learned how to grasp an issue as complex and complicated as CSOs and make it understandable for others. I also learned how to build coalitions with others while competing with intersecting issues.” – Adrian Ghainda, Jersey City

“I learned how CSOs and sewer plants work. I also learned that there are so many people behind them. I also now understand the importance of the community outreach programs we promote at our school. I plan to continue spreading awareness on CSOs and the importance of access to clean waterways.” – Maki Vilomar, Jersey City

Guest Speaker Testimonials

“There is no power worth having that isn’t built at the granular level. Power building from the bottom is what creates real movements. Nothing is done without community power because everything is done for the community. It’s like building a house with no foundation. Knowledgeable and informed residents mean different perspectives looking at the same problem. When a wealth of community experiences comes together to problem solve, you begin to get solutions and outputs greater than anyone could think. Residents have the perspective to come up with their own solutions, and being informed makes those solutions possible.” – Anthony Diaz, Newark Water Coalition

“When communities understand their collective strength, they can begin to shape the systems and policies that most directly impact their lives. Granular power is where real change begins, from the ground up. It’s in the neighborhood meetings, the front stoop conversations, the community gardens, the local nonprofit groups. These spaces build power, deepen relationships, and create a sense of stewardship that leads to action and empowerment. When people are equipped with knowledge, they are powerful; and they become active participants in the shaping of their own futures. Informed communities are not only more resilient, but they are better positioned to demand and design solutions that are truly responsive and meaningful, solutions that reflect their lived realities, their cultural wisdom, and their hope for the future of their communities. Real transformation takes root slowly, intentionally, and collectively, one person at a time.” – Michele Langa, NY/NJ Baykeeper & Hackensack Riverkeeper, SFSR advisory board member

“In order to develop power at the granular level, you must first create informed residents on the ground so that they, along with others, can help achieve solutions that are more responsible to the community. But it’s more than just giving people information. At this time, all of us are inundated with information from myriad sources. Some of it might be correct, some of it might not. Some of it might be applicable, some of it might not. So rather than just possessing information, residents need to develop knowledge and the means to transmit that knowledge to others in their communities. That’s why a program like CLAP is so valuable: a forum to bring stakeholders together for face-to-face conversations and the transfer of knowledge. When environmental projects are being considered in a community, that knowledge allows community members to play a more meaningful role in the decision-making process by being able to bring attention to local conditions that those responsible for such projects might not otherwise be aware of. Similarly, knowledgeable local residents provide for more productive conversations surrounding various options for the implementation of such projects. Ultimately, this leads to better outcomes.” – Michael Witt, Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission

Lessons Learned Over The Four Cohorts

Four cohorts have been held since 2022.
First cohort: Statewide across 21 CSO communities, 2022
Second cohort: Jersey City, 2023
Third cohort: North Hudson Sewerage Authority service area, 2024
Fourth cohort: Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission, service area, 2025

With its first cohort taking place in 2022, the CLAP program aimed to build capacity within CSO towns by providing grassroots community members and leaders an opportunity to deepen their knowledge of local flooding and CSO issues, clarify solutions that would make a difference, and build a network of peers advocating for an equitable, sustainable, and climate-resilient future. The program has adapted over the course of four cohorts. Lessons learned include:

• Flexibility in program curriculum. As the program progresses, it is important to tailor the curriculum in response to participants’ feedback. In some cases, we have updated the order of the lessons to suit their needs and invited specific individuals or groups, like the local water utility, to speak at sessions.

• Be intentional with cohort focus areas. The first cohort took place virtually, which enabled the program to include participants from all across the 21 CSO communities in New Jersey. While a statewide approach allowed for a broader overview of the issue and fostered connections between different communities, the following cohorts took a more localized approach. The second cohort took place in one city and the following cohorts were focused within specific regional areas based on the wastewater treatment plant service area. Focusing on a specific region has allowed for increased ownership among community members and stronger trust to be built between participants. It has also enabled participants to develop solutions tailored to their community’s needs and personal advocacy work. 
• Knowledge building by filling in gaps and making connections. CLAP participants enter the program with varying levels of understanding of flooding issues and CSOs. For some people, the first session is their introduction to CSOs. To make it worthwhile for the participants, it is essential to connect the issue of CSOs to the broader issue of water inequities and how it relates to other environmental justice issues that their communities face.

How We Move Forward

With some CSO communities already in the implementation phases of the five-year CSO permits, there are only 2.5 regional areas that need finalized permits. Ensuring the transparency of implementation schedules and projects, as well as accountability for permittees meeting their requirements, will take precedence for SFSR and its partners, including the CLAP alumni. Accountability around finalized permits will require monitoring by impacted community members and grassroots organizations. Even after permits are finalized, the anticipated change in administrations at the state level will require direct advocacy with municipalities. Partnerships with community organizations will be necessary to ensure the public is engaged and actively participating on the NJDEP-required CSO Supplemental Teams. 

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/bulletin.

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.

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Join the Sewage-Free Streets and Rivers Campaign’s– 

Community Leadership Action Program

Are you concerned about increased flooding and polluted waterways in your community? Do you want to help your community solve these problems while enhancing your advocacy and leadership skills and building a network of peers who are making an impact?

Join a network of peers who want to be part of the solution and help lead efforts to solve this critical issue!

Community members from the following municipalities are invited to apply to this spring/summer program:

• Bayonne
• East Newark
• Harrison
• Jersey City
• Kearny
• Newark
• North Bergen
• Paterson

APPLY HERE

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Sewage-Free Streets and Rivers (SFSR) Community Leadership Action Program is a five-session cohort-based program that provides grassroots community members and leaders residing in New Jersey’s Combined Sewer System communities with an opportunity to deepen their knowledge of local flooding and combined sewage overflow (CSO) issues, enhance their leadership and advocacy skills, and explore the best ways to take positive action for themselves and their community.

 

Program Participant Takeaways

• Learn why their neighborhoods are flooding and raw sewage is discharging into waterways.
• Clarify the solutions that will make a difference.
• Discover new ways to advocate and influence decision-makers.
• Build a network of peers advocating for an equitable, sustainable, climate-resilient future.

Planned Session Dates

• Session 1: Saturday, June 28, 10am-1pm (in-person – location TBD)
• Session 2: Thursday, July 17, 6-8pm (virtual)
• Session 3: Thursday, July 31, 6-8pm (virtual)
• Session 4: Thursday, August 7, 6-8pm (virtual)
• Session 5: Saturday, August 16, 10am-1pm (in-person field trip)

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Program Testimonials

“I greatly enjoyed the opportunities for networking, brainstorming, and hearing from experts. I think this served as a major education session for community leaders as well.”

 “Very engaging! Great speaker choices. Enjoyed the well-rounded topics and the detailed presentations, especially about successful community organizing and ways to participate in influencing the Jersey City council, and promote green infrastructure initiatives around JC.”

“This program allowed me to meet and network with local activists while gaining the knowledge needed to advocate for my neighbors.”

“I found the training super informative and loved all the guest speakers. The facilitator did a great job bringing the entire group together. I left all our meetings feeling empowered and inspired.”

“The program was very educational and well-organized. The cohort was collaborative, and each person brought their invaluable perspective.”

“Very well put together; great mix of people from different communities and clear problem and action plan on fighting it. Educational opportunity for all.”

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 13, 2022

CONTACT:
Michael Atkins
Communications Manager, New Jersey Future
[email protected]
609-217-5569

NJDEP Release of Combined Sewer Overflow Permit is a Major Step Towards Eliminating Harmful Sewage Flooding in NJ Communities

Residents urged to participate in the 60-day review process; attend an educational permit review “how-to” workshop

TRENTON, NJ — Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) are a clear and present danger to communities across New Jersey, threatening public health and safety during flooding events when sewage can flow into rivers, streams, public streets, and private properties. Last week, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) took a vital first step in addressing the pernicious issue of CSOs by releasing the first in a series of permits containing local strategies to repair sewer systems, and regulate and reduce overflows in impacted communities. New Jersey communities served by combined sewer systems (CSSs) that lead to these overflows are seeking NJDEP approval for projects that will contribute to the ultimate solution of eliminating sewage overflowing into their communities and waterways. This permit release marks a major milestone for New Jersey to meet the goal of sewage-free streets and rivers, and a turning point in our ability to address this issue throughout the state.

Since 2015, NJDEP and community stakeholders have endeavored to address the issue of CSOs dumping sewage into water bodies and backing up into streets and homes by requiring 21 impacted communities to develop Long Term Control Plans (LTCPs) by 2020. These plans will be implemented through a series of five-year permits. The first permit, as announced by NJDEP last week, is for the North Bergen Municipal Utilities Authority—Woodcliff Sewer Treatment Plant and Town of Guttenberg who own separate portions of one connected CSS and discharges overflows into the Hudson River when the capacity of the collection system and/or the sewage treatment plant is exceeded, typically due to heavy rainfall.

CSSs are sewers that were designed many decades ago to collect rainwater and snowmelt runoff, domestic sewage, and industrial wastewater in the same pipe. CSSs are no longer permitted in New Jersey for new communities, but many older cities continue to operate existing CSSs.

Sewage-Free Streets and Rivers and our partners look forward to reviewing this important permit and providing comments to ensure the final permit achieves its intended comprehensive approach to eliminating CSO flooding in an equitable, affordable, transparent way that also reflects individual community priorities and values.

“We are glad the process is underway and thank the NJDEP for shepherding communities who are actively seeking solutions and for ensuring a fair 60 day comment period. We also acknowledge the hard work completed by municipalities, utilities, community members, and community organizations to develop plans over the last seven years. Moving forward, it is critical that NJDEP prioritizes release of the CSO permits impacting environmental justice communities. The burden from further delay in reducing flooding is too high of a cost to residents who are already experiencing many daily pressures,” shares Suzanne Aptman, Sewage-Free Streets and Rivers Program Manager.

NJDEP is providing a 60-day public comment period, ending February 13, 2023, during which community members, officials, and community organizations in the Woodcliff neighborhood of North Bergen and town of Guttenberg are urged to carefully review the permit actions and provide comments to NJDEP to ensure the proposed projects, timelines, and costs are the best solutions for that area.

This is a critical moment for directly impacted residents and for stakeholders in the other 20 CSO communities. Modifications made to this first CSO permit will inform the process, projects, timelines, and costs finalized in the other regional CSO permits expected to be released in 2023. As such, community members, officials, and community organizations in the other NJ CSO communities are encouraged to participate in this permit’s public comment process.

Written comments should be submitted by February 13. Two virtual public hearings for oral comments are scheduled for January 23 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and again from 6:00–8:00 p.m.

“Getting involved in the 60-day public comment period is critical. The people who live, work and run businesses in these cities will pay for these upgrades and should have a strong role in shaping the plans. Community voices are needed to ensure that the solutions are affordable, keep residents healthy, invest in local jobs, businesses and neighborhoods, and create more green spaces that promote climate resiliency,” said Michele Langa, staff attorney at NY/NJ Baykeeper.

A “How-To” Workshop for the Public

Sewage-Free Streets and Rivers Campaign and the Jersey Water Works CSO Committee will offer workshops and guidance to support community engagement in the CSO permit public comment process. These workshops are free and open to the public, municipal officials, and the press to attend to learn more about the issue.

The first virtual workshop will be on January 18 from 7:00–8:30 p.m. During this workshop we will explain how permits work, what should be included or is missing, and how the public can effectively weigh in by providing written or oral testimony during the public comment window. Feel free to invite fellow community members, municipal officials, and community-based organizations. Sign up here to join the workshop or to receive information that will help you to submit written and oral comments during the comment period process.

The Sewage-Free Streets and Rivers campaign collaborates with residents, community organizations and small business owners to advocate for and shape the solutions that were adopted in their Long Term Control Plan and that will be included in their first five-year permits to reduce localized flooding and the raw sewage dumped into our waterways.

Communities With Combined-Sewer Systems and a CSO permit (list)
Bayonne, City of Camden, East Newark, Elizabeth, Fort Lee, Gloucester City, Guttenberg, Hackensack, Harrison, Hoboken, Jersey City, Kearny, Newark, North Bergen, Paterson, Perth Amboy, Ridgefield Park, Trenton, Union City, Weehawken and West New York.

For further questions or inquiries, please contact Michael Atkins, 609-217-5569 or via email [email protected]

 

Make Your Voice Heard with NJDEP in January for Reduced NJ Flooding and Sewage Overflows!

A Free Virtual Public Workshop:
Community Driven Input on Upcoming Combined Sewage Overflow Proposed Projects

Co-hosted by the Sewage-Free Streets and Rivers campaign and the Jersey Water Works (JWW) CSO Committee

 January 18, 2023, 7:00–8:30 p.m.

Sign up here

As a community member or community organization you have a chance to provide needed input on the most recent New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) proposed strategies and projects to reduce flooding and sewage overflows.

We want to support you to participate and offer your comments with ease and impact.

NJDEP is giving the public 60 days—until February 13, 2023—to comment – in writing and orally – on the recently released DRAFT North Bergen/Guttenberg, NJ CSO Permit (which allows certain strategies and projects to be implemented).

If you live or work in North Bergen’s Woodcliff Neighborhood or in Guttenberg, we highly encourage your participation. Modifications made to this first CSO permit will inform the process, projects, timelines, and costs finalized in the other regional CSO permits expected to be released in 2023.

As such, community members, officials, and community organizations in the other NJ CSO communities are encouraged to participate in this permit’s public comment process.

During this workshop, we’ll make it simple to understand:

• What Combined Sewer Systems (CSSs) and Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) are.
• Why these NJDEP CSO permits are important for protecting the environment and public health.
• What strategies, projects, and public engagement efforts should be included in an effective CSO permit.
• Concerns around what may be missing in this first draft permit (for Woodcliff, North Bergen/Guttenberg, New Jersey).
• How to provide comments before the permits are finalized (in writing and during oral testimony).

Sign up here and invite other organizations!

Use the above sign up even if you can’t join the workshop, so we can email you suggestions, tips, and reminders on joining the public comment period! Or email us at: i[email protected] and/or [email protected]

Learn more about the background on CSOs, the Long Term Control plans and permits:

• Sewage-Free Streets and Rivers website
• Sewage-Free Streets and Rivers Resources Page
• JWW CSO Committee Resources Page
• NJDEP’s CSO Page

We are excited to announce the Sewage-Free Streets and Rivers Community Leaders Fellowship Program. The program is for emerging community leaders from communities with combined sewer systems who want to increase their understanding of water policy, advocacy, equity, organizing, and communications while expanding their networks.

Local leaders will build their capacity to affect the implementation of the combined sewer overflow (CSO) Long Term Control Plans and longer-term decisions related to climate change, flooding, and infrastructure and gain permanent skills and relationships that endure beyond this project. The program involves six bi-weekly virtual sessions (Wednesday, April 6 – Wednesday, June 15) with the potential for in-person events based on interest and availability. The program will be facilitated by experts in water policy, environmental justice, climate change, data, community organizing, and policy. Participants will receive a $600 stipend (distributed in two installments based on attendance). Space is limited, so register soon!

The Sewage-Free Streets and River campaign is committed to combating historical and ongoing exclusion by advancing leadership opportunities in underinvested communities. We are seeking applicants who are representative of CSO communities, specifically people of color and lower-income individuals.

For session details and information on how to apply, visit: https://sewagefreenj.org/resources/sewage-free-streets-and-rivers-community-leaders-fellowship-program/.

“My problem is every time it rains, I get water in my basement, and then the sewers smell,” said Yolanda Mateo, a Paterson resident. “This last time, the flow looked like a river coming down and into my basement where I have the line of the electric. I was scared.”

Yolanda was one of many Paterson residents who shared her story at the Dec. 4, 2021 Stormwater Stories Open Mic at Paterson Falls. Struck by the devastation of Tropical Storm Ida, The Paterson Green Team, Waterspirit, The Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions, and Sewage-Free Streets and Rivers collaborated to record firsthand accounts of how Paterson residents are impacted by flooding. These stories revealed that although Tropical Storm Ida severely impacted residents, it was not the first flood and will not be the last one. The flooding issues in Paterson have been occurring for decades.  

We are compiling these stories into a video and will share the video and clips in our upcoming newsletter, on the Sewage-Free Streets and Rivers website, and on social media. Here are some excerpts from the stories we gathered.

Frances Harrison:

“I’m here at the fabulous Great Falls and the Passaic River running behind us to talk about the problems that Paterson has with flooding. This river, which was introduced to the city from Alexander Hamilton, was a lifesaver 200 years ago. Now with the infrastructure and overflow of sewage of the city, this river has become a very big problem for Paterson. Ida came through, and the neighbors a block away from me—their basement was flooded up to the knee. I went to my neighbors—I got a little water in my house, but to see water up to the knees of a full basement of five rooms, it was just horrendous.”

Julio Hernandez:

“It’s a problem, and every time I’m fixing the driveway—it cracks our driveway and it’s an unending repair. Our foundation is getting mold from all the water coming in. It’s a big problem and it happens all the time. We don’t know what to do anymore. We talked to the City, and they told us there’s a drainage problem in our street. It’s cracking our sidewalk, and we don’t know what to do anymore.”

William Priestley:

“I’ve been a resident of Paterson for 75 years and a resident of People’s Park for 75 years. This problem has been going on since I was a little child. We used to play in these puddles years ago because we didn’t know about polio and all that stuff. But today, all these germs and diseases have come around, yet the kids are still in the streets playing. So it’s very dangerous with all the floods and conditions in Paterson. It should have been done 75 years ago. It still exists today in Paterson. We don’t need so many other things. We need this issue done. And really, it’s a shame. With all the money we have in the city of Paterson, nothing has been done and I’m sorry for that. The falls are beautiful, and the city is beautiful. Let’s keep it beautiful! The City of Paterson and State of New Jersey should fund the people who have all these disasters, basements being flooded out—they should fund them. Either for a sump pump, winterization, or something. It’s a real shame. They can afford it. Let them get it done. Thank you!”   

Martha Arencibia:

“Where I live, with my neighbors we hear lightning and thunder and we go into activation panic mode. We have to leave our homes, because we can’t stay there. All we can do is take our cars and locate them to higher ground so they don’t flood. We then come back to find the neighborhood in disarray. Cars all over the place. With Ida, September 1st, this year 2021, I had five feet of water in my basement. I lost everything: two furnaces, two hot water heaters, and personal belongings. I mean, it’s not even about the money. It’s about the effect of the disaster and the health hazard with no resources. You can’t fix something that is not covered by insurance. How do you recover? This is something that needs to be addressed. I can’t express it enough. How it affects us. If it doesn’t happen to you, you’re blessed. I’m so happy for you! But it happens to some neighbors, it happens to some bodegas, stores with food in it, our schools, our houses of worship, so we’re affected no matter what. Paterson is one of 21 municipalities in this area that has a combined sewer system, and I can’t express enough that there’s so much federal money to be had. Let’s tap into that money so we could give Paterson the resources that we need for our community because this is injustice, what we have going on here. If our elected officials do not push this subject, we have a serious CSO problem in Paterson and all the other municipalities that have this issue. We really have to work together as a community—bring more partners to come into a platform that we could actually tap into the resources that are now available. This is a crisis for humanity. It’s time that we talk [about] CSO.  It’s time that we address this problem, because I’m a flood victim. I’m not just a resident of Paterson. I’m a flood victim. I can’t even swim! But anyway, that’s it.”                              

New Jersey’s regional and local governments are learning how to incorporate the impacts of climate change into decisions about land use, housing, open space, and infrastructure investments. The State of New Jersey was awarded a $15 million federal grant as part of the Hurricane Sandy relief efforts in 2016. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is administering $10 million for the Resilient NJ program. The remaining $5 million is being used to develop a toolkit of best practices for regional stormwater infrastructure.

Resilient NJ funds the development and implementation of four Resilience and Adaptation Action Plans for the Atlantic County Coastal, Northeastern, Raritan River and Bay, and Long Beach Island regions. For each region, municipal, non-profit, and consulting firms were awarded grants to develop their own regional plans. The regions were selected from the nine counties that were most adversely impacted by Hurricane Sandy. Each region includes three adjacent municipalities. Two of the regions, Northeastern and Raritan River and Bay, include municipalities that also have combined sewer systems and are planning substantial investments to upgrade their sewer systems.

The first phase of Resilient NJ was launched in Spring 2021 with regional planning efforts that include a strong emphasis on public input. The focus of the Spring 2021 phase was to develop a vision and priorities, while the summer focused on risks and tools. Now, the regions are working on potential solutions. Looking ahead to 2022, phase two of the program will involve another round of stakeholder engagement on Action Plan Implementation. 

Addressing combined sewer overflows has been a topic of discussion in the meetings for the Northeastern region, where all of the adjacent municipalities—Bayonne, Jersey City, Newark, and Hoboken—have combined sewer systems. One participant noted in Resilient Northeastern NJ’s recently released Vision and Priorities Report that “residents in the North Ward [of Newark] are now starting to experience the effects of flooding in their community that is believed to be the result of capacity constraints of the City’s stormwater conveyance system during precipitation events as it relates to development.” Northeastern New Jersey is soliciting feedback on this report, as well as feedback on flood risks and resilience solutions. Meeting minutes and more opportunities to engage and provide feedback can be found on all four of the regional project websites.