New Jersey’s Aging Water Infrastructure

There is a long-standing problem of water infrastructure management in New Jersey.  Water supply, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure systems have not received adequate investment for decades in most parts of the state.  Many of our existing pipelines were put in place during two growth spurts – the city-building era of 1890-1930 and the suburban growth boom of 1950-1970. These pipes are aging to the point of frequent failure.  Treatment plants were built or upgraded more recently, in response to the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act of the 1970s, but are also aging and will need significant investment.  Dr. Van Abs will discuss the coming collision between the public interest in sound water infrastructure and the public’s interest in low costs.