By Ashley Balcerzak
Nearly 144,000 New Jersey families (click here) are behind a combined $44.5 million on their water and sewer bills — risking shutoffs or tax lien foreclosure — and yet many households can't access millions of dollars in federal funding to help because a majority of water utilities in the Garden State aren't participating in a relief program.
Low- and middle-income families in New Jersey that need help with water and sewer bills are eligible for up to $5,000 to prevent their water service from being disconnected or to avoid a tax lien sale, under the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program, launched last March with federal stimulus funds.
But fewer than 2,000 families had received benefits through December, according to Department of Community Affairs data....
With a history dating back to 1886, (click here) American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. We employ more than 6,400 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and regulated-like drinking water and wastewater services to 14 million people in 24 states.
New Jersey Department of Public Advocate
The Rate Control authority is supposed to solve problems, not cause them.
Contact: Stephen McBay
New York - Today, EPA announced a major new initiative (click here) to accelerate progress toward the Biden-Harris Administration’s goal of 100% lead service line removal and replacement. EPA introduced the “Lead Service Line Replacement Accelerators” initiative at a White House summit celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan and convened state and local leaders to discuss the program. New Jersey is among the first states to participate in the Accelerator initiative, an ambitious program aimed at providing targeted technical assistance services to underserved communities to replace lead pipes that endanger the health of children and families. This initiative is a partnership with the Department of Labor, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin and will work with up to 40 communities across these states in 2023. The full list of communities that will benefit from this program will be announced in the coming weeks.
"New Jersey is a trailblazer in environmental stewardship by participating in this pilot program," said Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. "Far too many communities in the state and across the nation are still facing the challenge of replacing aging pipes, particularly in communities that have been historically underserved and overburdened. This program will provide crucial support and assistance to these communities and help to address this pressing issue."...
"New Jersey is a trailblazer in environmental stewardship by participating in this pilot program," said Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. "Far too many communities in the state and across the nation are still facing the challenge of replacing aging pipes, particularly in communities that have been historically underserved and overburdened. This program will provide crucial support and assistance to these communities and help to address this pressing issue."...
