An Assembly Resolution urging the Congress and President of the United States to enact the "Water Quality Investment Act."

Whereas, Forty years ago, the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) set a national goal to "restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation's waters" by, among other things, eliminating the discharge of pollutants into waterways and attaining water quality that provides for the use of the waters for recreation and the protection of fish and wildlife; and

Whereas, While the CWA has made great strides in controlling water pollution and improving the quality of water, significant challenges remain, including the discharge of raw sewage from combined sewer systems into the nation's waterways; and

Whereas, Most communities across the country have separate sewer systems for their sewage and stormwater runoff, which respectively send sewage to wastewater treatment plants and stormwater directly to lakes, rivers, and streams; and

Whereas, However, approximately 770 communities in the United States have combined sewer systems, which transport sewage and stormwater runoff in the same pipes to wastewater treatment plants; and

Whereas, During periods of heavy rainfall or snowmelt, the volume of wastewater traveling through a combined sewer system can exceed the capacity of the system, and the excess wastewater is discharged directly to nearby rivers, streams, and lakes; and

Whereas, These overflows, called combined sewer overflows (CSOs), contain pollutants such as wastewater from residents' bathrooms and kitchens, untreated industrial waste, and stormwater runoff carrying animal waste, oil, pesticides, and other contaminants; and

Whereas, CSOs result in discharges that exceed national water quality standards, and thus pose a risk to human health, threaten aquatic habitats and life, and impair the use and enjoyment of the nation's waterways; and

Whereas, Specifically, exposure to polluted water from CSOs, either directly by ingesting or inhaling the water or its fumes, or indirectly by eating contaminated fish, can cause hepatitis, gastroenteritis, and skin, respiratory, and ear infections; and

Whereas, CSOs also result in financial burdens for communities due to cleanup expenses and the costs of emergency repairs, beach and fishery closures, and medical treatment; and

Whereas, In New Jersey, each year, more than 200 outfall pipes in 21 municipalities discharge approximately 23 billion gallons of raw sewage into State waters; and

Whereas, Although these combined sewer systems are regulated under the CWA, many of the systems do not comply with the law because compliance would require extensive upgrades that municipalities cannot afford to make on their own; and

Whereas, The United States Environmental Protection Agency estimates that upgrading all of New Jersey's aging combined sewer systems would cost more than $8 billion; and

Whereas, The "Water Quality Investment Act," would provide $1.8 billion over five years to states for municipal combined sewer overflow upgrades; and

Whereas, Although this amount is only a fraction of what is needed to fully upgrade the nation's combined sewer systems, it is a step in the right direction, and helps remove some of the financial burden from municipalities; and

Whereas, The bill would also help the overall economy, as the United States Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates that for every dollar spent on water infrastructure, $2.62 is generated in all industries the same year; and

Whereas, The bill, which received broad bipartisan support in the past, would promote smart water infrastructure investment, mitigate public health risks, preserve vital natural resources, and help achieve the goal of the CWA to restore and maintain the integrity of the nation's waters; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. This House urges the Congress and President of the United States to enact the "Water Quality Investment Act," in order to promote smart water infrastructure investment, mitigate public health risks, preserve vital natural resources, and help achieve the goal of the Clean Water Act to restore and maintain the integrity of the nation's waters.

2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the President of the United States, the Speaker and the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the members of the New Jersey Congressional delegation, and the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

STATEMENT

This resolution would urge the Congress and President of the United States to enact the "Water Quality Investment Act."

Forty years ago, the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) set a national goal to "restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation's waters" by eliminating the discharge of pollutants into waterways and attaining water quality that provides for the use of the waters for recreation and the protection of fish and wildlife. While the CWA has made great strides toward this goal, significant challenges still remain, including the discharge of raw sewage from combined sewer systems into the nation's waterways. These discharges, known as combined sewer overflows (CSOs) exceed national water quality standards, and thus pose a risk to human health, threaten aquatic habitats and life, and impair the use and enjoyment of rivers, streams, and lakes. CSOs also result in financial burdens for communities due to cleanup expenses and the costs of emergency repairs, beach and fishery closures, and medical treatment.

In New Jersey, each year, combined sewer systems in 21 municipalities discharge 23 billion gallons of raw sewage into the waters. Although combined sewer systems are regulated under the CWA, many of these systems do not comply with the law because compliance would require extensive upgrades that municipalities cannot afford to make. In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that upgrading all of New Jersey's aging combined sewer systems would cost over $8 billion. The "Water Quality Investment Act" would provide $1.8 billion over five years to states for municipal combined sewer overflow upgrades. Although this amount is only a fraction of what is needed to fully upgrade the nation's combined sewer systems, it is a step in the right direction, and would help remove some of the financial burden from municipalities.