New Jersey has long been a leader in environmental stewardship, from Gov. Brendan Byrne’s signing and implementation of the Pinelands Protection Act in 1979 to Gov. Phil Murphy and the state’s recent implementation of the first-in-the-nation Environmental Justice Law. Yet much work still needs to be done to continue this progress — investment in the pipes, infrastructure and distribution systems that deliver clean water to all New Jerseyans every day.

On average, drinking water pipes across the country are over 50 years old. However, in some areas of New Jersey, water distribution centers are more than 100 years old, despite the fact that most pipes have an expected lifespan of 100 years or less. Aging water infrastructure threatens our water supply and its reliability. This leads to more water main breaks and leaks — resulting in wasted resources and higher treatment and pumping costs. It is estimated that New Jersey loses 130 million gallons of treated drinking water per day. Some suppliers report losing up to 33% of treated drinking water annually because of aging and leaking pipes.

Addressing these deficiencies is also a top priority among the public. A Jersey Water Works and New Jersey Future survey found protecting our drinking water as the most important environmental concern facing New Jersey, with 80% saying ensuring safe drinking water access should be a priority for our governor and Legislature.

Despite recent federal funding to address New Jersey’s aging infrastructure and lead service lines, we still are falling far short of adequately addressing the issue. Federal Environmental Protection Agency data suggests that New Jersey is $8.5 billion short of the funds needed to upgrade neglected water pipes and wastewater systems over the next five years, and $26 billion short in funding over the next 20 years. Across the country, the EPA predicts a $625 billion investment is needed to assess public water systems’ infrastructure needs.

New Jersey American Water recognizes that safe and reliable water and sewer infrastructure is essential for public health, environmental quality and overall quality of life. And that is why we have consistently taken matters into our own hands to keep our systems safe, secure and reliable. In 2023, New Jersey American Water invested more than $507 million across our network of water and sewer systems. We’re proud of this progress and investment but we can’t continue to act alone.

Decades of federal and state underinvestment have left aging systems neglected; increasing their vulnerability in the event of a severe flood or hurricane and intensifying the potential risk of a water or sewer disruption with major consequences.

Underinvestment in water infrastructure also significantly affects water quality. During Tropical Storm Ida in 2021, many municipal and small water systems in central New Jersey were under a Boil Water Advisory or completely out of commission for weeks, struggling to handle the severe impact of the storm. However, New Jersey American Water systems remained operational due to a series of proactive investments at our Raritan-Millstone Water Treatment Plant, including flood protection recommended for a 500-year storm event to safeguard water supply for about 1 million people in central New Jersey.

The threats from climate change only continue to intensify. More frequent and severe flooding, heavier rainfall and damaging coastal storms are becoming an increasing reality. By 2050, today’s 100-year coastal flooding event is projected to occur five times more often. It is estimated that sea level changes and hurricane damage will cause an additional $1.3 billion to $3.1 billion in annual statewide losses by 2050.

New Jersey has made great progress in the fight to address climate change, safeguarding our environment for future generations. Now, it’s time to ensure that our investments and policy solutions don’t leave behind the water and sewer infrastructure that we cannot live without.

Mark McDonough is president of New Jersey American Water.