Previously serving as COO, Ralph LaRossa steps into the chief executive officer role Sept. 1, succeeding Ralph Izzo, who led the company for 15 years and will finish out the year as executive chairman.

The Camden-based company's charitable foundation distributed the funds to 36 organizations in 12 states, including two groups in New Jersey.

The project, which kicked off last month, is a five-year initiative to replace approximately 250 miles of at-risk facilities.

The additions are being made possible by a grant awarded through a New Jersey Board of Public Utilities program to promote tourism.

Utility Service Affiliates Inc. has been operating and managing Avalon’s water, wastewater and stormwater collection systems for the past 10 years. 

The new monthly bill for an average water customer using 5,520 gallons will increase by about $2.93, while charges for an average wastewater customer will increase by approximately $3.74, the utility said. 

The Lail property in East Greenwich Township and Paulsboro Borough sits in a tidal area of the Delaware Estuary and connects to the Mantua Creek, which flows into the Delaware River.

However, warns GasBuddy Head of Petroleum Patrick De Haan, the run of decreases - which saw a 10-cent drop in N.J. last week - may be coming to an end.

The industry is on the fast track in New Jersey, including the state's first such effort, Ocean Wind 1. And while that project progresses – and remains central to the state’s offshore wind efforts – another in South Jersey that is also an integral piece of the puzzle is gaining steam.

The deal with Bound Brook marks the third such transaction the company has made within its water footprint in the past four years, adding more than 7,500 wastewater customers.

The figure includes $6.9 million in proceeds from the state's participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and $3.9 million from its share of the nationwide Volkswagen Settlement.

The declaration from New Jersey Commissioner of Environmental Protection Shawn LaTourette is the first of its kind since 2016. It comes amid persistent hot, dry conditions that are stressing supplies and urges residents and businesses to conserve water.