Sewage-Free Streets and Rivers

🎯📈🏆

In January, New Jersey passed a quiet yet long-awaited milestone in its journey toward cleaner and healthier waterways for all New Jerseyans. All combined sewer overflow Long-Term Control Plans (LTCPs) and the associated five-year permits have now been released and commented on. Six out of the seven regional plans have been finalized.

While the permit review process may have ended, the work does not end here. With the staggered release of the regional CSO permits completed, New Jersey has shifted to an implementation phase.

As SFSR continues to raise awareness and educate more people about CSOs and accountability in implementation, we also look forward to 2029, when the CSO permits will be up for renewal.

👥 The Big Takeaway: We Cannot Do This Alone! 🤝
Stay connected by signing up for our quarterly newsletter and/or joining your local CSO Supplemental Team!

https://sewagefreenj.org/2026/01/26/marking-a-major-cso-milestone-together/
https://njfuture.app.neoncrm.com/forms/sfsr-sign-up

“Raw sewage is not only harmful to humans, but it can harm the environment through excessive nutrients, toxic contaminants and disease exposure,” Naujoks said. “This can lead to dead zones in the river, harmful algal blooms and fish kills.”

Nearly Contained Sewage Spill Leaves Serious Concerns For Potomac River - The BayNet Six days after a massive sewage spill into the Potomac River upstream of the District of Columbia, the city’s water utility, DC Water, announced that the overflow was “nearing full containment.” The spill, which sent hundreds of millions of gallons of untreated wastewater into the river, was c...

Join Potomac Riverkeeper Network for a deep-dive discussion into one of the worst sewage spills in modern history. On January 19th, a 6 foot wide sewage pipe failed and leaked more than 300 million gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac River. This issue isn't 100% resolved just yet, but progress is underway.

During this discussion, we'll talk about: what happened, what has been done to fix the issue, what still needs to be done, what our next steps are, and much more. There will be time for a Q&A session at the end of this presentation.

Register for this free webinar here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_y5Lw8hu2QLmaQoLn8cwXzA #/registration

💥TAKE ACTION NOW! 💥

Sign on to our comment letter to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) regarding their plans to reduce flooding and sewage overflows for the Middlesex County Utilities Authority and the City of Perth Amboy.

We’re urging NJDEP to:
✂️shorten implementation timelines - the 40-year timeline is unacceptable!
⏩prioritize the completion of green infrastructure projects within the next five years - GI is left to the end of the timeline in many cases, and can increase engagement by being added to projects earlier.
💰explore alternative forms of financing that can reduce costs and shorten the timeline with equity in mind
➕make additional recommendations on affordability, climate change, and equity

Read the full comment letter and sign on at tinyurl.com/SFsignon!

📝Sign on by noon ET, Monday, January 5.

Community voice plays a vital role in building awareness and implementing CSO solutions! As community members, YOU have the opportunity to make your voice heard on NJDEP’s proposed plan to reduce flooding and sewage overflows in your town! 🏙️

Attend and speak up at the NJDEP public hearing on Monday, December 8! This is our chance to ensure the plans are strict and effective before getting finalized. Visit the NJDEP website for more info - https://dep.nj.gov/dwq/combined-sewer-overflow/community-involvement/cso-public-hearings/ 🎤

Can’t attend? Submit comments in writing to NJDEP! ✍️The public comment period is open until January 5, 2026. Comments via email are also acceptable and can be sent to [email protected].

SFSR will also create a sign-on letter for organizations and individuals to take action. ✅ More information to come.

Join us on Wednesday, December 3, for a FREE community evening at Liberty Science Center! 🔬🧪💧

SFSR will be tabling with Hudson Montessori School for a hands-on activity about the water cycle! We'll also be conducting our community flooding survey. Gift cards will be offered to families who complete the survey.

We hope to see you there!

Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSepqVU2BRlD3ZCTaGmjlA4b8y1TUEYmpiZxCnmpQ0L6V8VtXA/viewform

Earlier this month, New Jersey Future and the Sewage-Free Streets and Rivers campaign joined Environment New Jersey and several partners in Camden for the release of the report, “Sewage pollution in the Philadelphia-Camden region.”

According to the study, Camden’s combined sewer system released raw sewage and polluted stormwater an average of 76 days a year.

To ensure that residents can consistently enjoy local waterways free of sewage pollution, the report makes several recommendations to all levels of government in Camden County and calls on federal officials to dramatically increase funding for upgrading wastewater infrastructure and preventing runoff pollution. 💧⬆️💰

Read the full report at the link in bio! 🔗

On November 6, SFSR attended the HEP 2025 Ripple Effects: Local Actions for Estuary-Wide Change Annual Conference. The event highlighted how small-scale projects play a pivotal role in shaping healthy watersheds. 🌀 Thank you to for hosting a day full of diverse activities, panels, and workshops!

Concerned about CSOs in your community?

Join the Camden-Gloucester-CCMUA Supplemental Team Meeting this evening, November 13 from 5:00-6:30pm at the Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority (CCMUA) and via Zoom.

The Supplemental Team meetings provide an open forum for residents, community-based organizations, and stakeholders to learn about ongoing efforts to reduce flooding, improve water quality, and guide long-term infrastructure investments in Camden and Gloucester City. 💧🌊🚰

Join this Thursday, November 13 for a Public Meeting about NHSA’s historic Long Term Control Plan (LTCP). Learn more about the steps we are taking to reduce combined sewer overflows and protect the Hudson River.

This is your chance to learn, ask questions, and be part of a cleaner water future for our community. 🌊 Learn more at nhudsonsa.com/csoltcp

NJDEP’s Environmental Justice Advisory Council is holding public meetings to receive input on how EJAC can advise NJDEP on various environmental justice initiatives. Contribute your voice to the conversation! Register by October 6 to provide your comment at the meeting. Comments can also be submitted via [email protected] with your name and "EJAC Public Meeting Comment" in the subject line.

https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/57ZqoLKWQ3WPXOHQuZAxYA #/registration

Water is a shared resource that powers our community—our homes 🏡, schools 🏫, businesses🏢, and our health and well-being❤️ It’s the force behind everything we depend on.

This October 16, we’re proud to observe hashtag and highlight the need for investments in sustainable water infrastructure to ensure clean and reliable water for generations to come.

Get involved! 👉 https://thevalueofwater.org/imagineaday