Title
Dept/ Agency: Offices of Municipal Council/City Clerk
Action: ( ) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Urging/Supporting
Purpose: Supporting the release of an update to the New Jersey Water Supply Master Plan.
Sponsor: Council member, John Sharpe James
Additional Information:
body
WHEREAS, water is a necessary and fundamental building block of all life; and
WHEREAS, clean drinking water is a fundamental right of New Jersey citizens; and
WHEREAS, all drinking water in New Jersey is supplied by underground aquifers, rivers, and/or reservoirs replenished by rain, snow melt, or fed by rivers and streams; and
WHEREAS, an ample supply of clean water is critical to agricultural production in the Garden State; and
WHEREAS, an ample supply of clean water is necessary for a healthy economy and a robust business climate for key industries in New Jersey, such as hospitality, tourism, manufacturing, healthcare and others; and
WHEREAS, New Jersey’s ecosystems and wildlife rely on an adequate supply of clean water in creeks, streams, rivers, ponds, and wetlands; and
WHEREAS, in 2015, 12 of the 21 counties in New Jersey entered into a state of drought watch and seven (7) drought warnings, watches, and emergencies have been declared in New Jersey since the year 2000; and
WHEREAS, in 1981, the New Jersey Legislature adopted Chapter 262, known as the Water Supply Management Act; and
WHEREAS, the Water Supply Management Act requires the development of a Statewide Water Supply Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Water Supply Management Act requires the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to update the Water Supply Master Plan at least every Five (5) years; and
WHEREAS, the last completed and publicly available version of the Water Supply Plan occurred in 1996; and
WHEREAS, for over a decade under an outdated State Water Supply Plan, land use planning and development have been proceeding in New Jersey without publicly available updated scientific or policy guidance regarding the availability of adequate water supplies; and
WHEREAS, municipalities depend on the Governor of New Jersey and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to adopt policies and regulations allocating a safe sustainable supply of New Jersey’s water resources in accordance with the Water Supply Plan.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY THAT:
1. The Municipal Council respectfully requests that the Governor of New Jersey and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection release an update to the New Jersey Water Supply Master Plan immediately for public review and comment and following such comment, finalize, adopt and implement the Plan.
2. The Office of the City Clerk on behalf of the Municipal Council will send a letter to the Governor’s office, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and to our New Jersey Assembly and Senate members alerting them to our concerns about the lack of a current Water Supply Plan in New Jersey.
STATEMENT:
This resolution hereby supports the Municipal Council’s urgent request that the Governor of New Jersey and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection release an update to the New Jersey Water Supply Master Plan.