New Jersey Statewide Water Supply Plan. 2024 (public draft). New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. This plan updates the 2017-2022 plan, providing guidance on the status, trends, projections and preferred policy recommendations for statewide and regional water supply conditions and needs. Rutgers providing planning, policy analysis and writing support for the plan, which is a formal policy document of the NJDEP.
For additional information and the full plan: https://dep.nj.gov/water-supply-plan/
For additional information and the full plan: https://dep.nj.gov/water-supply-plan/
Estimating Public Investments in Landscape Preservation and Water Quality Best Management Practices in the Delaware River Basin. Van Abs, D.J., K.M. O’Neill, S.J. Malone, K. Keys and A. Parker. 2021. Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey for the William Penn Foundation.
This effort represents the first project-level compilation of expenditures attempted in the Basin, and to our knowledge for any large river basin in the nation. It builds on prior compilations of program-level budgets. More than $900 million of relevant projects were reported as occurring in six years (2014-2019) within the Delaware River Basin, with the amount by funding level (e.g., federal, state, county, municipal). Of reported total funding, $825 million (91%), is from governments, the primary project focus.
This effort represents the first project-level compilation of expenditures attempted in the Basin, and to our knowledge for any large river basin in the nation. It builds on prior compilations of program-level budgets. More than $900 million of relevant projects were reported as occurring in six years (2014-2019) within the Delaware River Basin, with the amount by funding level (e.g., federal, state, county, municipal). Of reported total funding, $825 million (91%), is from governments, the primary project focus.
File is available from: https://williampennfoundation.org/what-we-are-learning/estimating-public-investments-landscape-preservation-and-water-quality-best
Assessing the Affordability of Water and Sewer Utility Costs in New Jersey, Phase 1 Report: Methodology Review and Preliminary Assessment
Van Abs, Daniel J., and Tim Evans. 2018. Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ.
Assessing the Affordability of Water and Sewer Utility Costs in New Jersey: Phase 2 Report: Conceptual Issues for a New Jersey Affordability Assessment Methodology.
Van Abs, Daniel J. 2020.
A New Jersey Affordability Methodology and Assessment for Drinking Water and Sewer Utility Costs.
Van Abs, Daniel J., Tim Evans and Kimberley Irby. 2021
This three-part report for the Jersey Water Works collaborative reviews various methods that have been or could be used to evaluate the household affordability of drinking water and sewer utility costs in New Jersey. The Phase 1 report provides a preliminary assessment of household financial stress using these methods, based on recent household income levels and estimated utility costs (2017/2018 rates) for households using 60,000 gallons per year as a common demand level. It makes preliminary findings on household affordability based on the analyses and provides policy recommendations and ideas for additional research. The Phase 2 report provides an update on methods in use or being considered in other states, proposes criteria for a New Jersey methodology. The final report is the resulting methodology for use by the Jersey Water Works collaborative and policy makers.
Van Abs, Daniel J., and Tim Evans. 2018. Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ.
Assessing the Affordability of Water and Sewer Utility Costs in New Jersey: Phase 2 Report: Conceptual Issues for a New Jersey Affordability Assessment Methodology.
Van Abs, Daniel J. 2020.
A New Jersey Affordability Methodology and Assessment for Drinking Water and Sewer Utility Costs.
Van Abs, Daniel J., Tim Evans and Kimberley Irby. 2021
This three-part report for the Jersey Water Works collaborative reviews various methods that have been or could be used to evaluate the household affordability of drinking water and sewer utility costs in New Jersey. The Phase 1 report provides a preliminary assessment of household financial stress using these methods, based on recent household income levels and estimated utility costs (2017/2018 rates) for households using 60,000 gallons per year as a common demand level. It makes preliminary findings on household affordability based on the analyses and provides policy recommendations and ideas for additional research. The Phase 2 report provides an update on methods in use or being considered in other states, proposes criteria for a New Jersey methodology. The final report is the resulting methodology for use by the Jersey Water Works collaborative and policy makers.
| van_abs_and_evans_2018.09.09_phase_1_assessing_water_sewer_utility_costs.pdf |
| van_abs_2020.12.22_revised_phase_2_report_methodology_for_assessing_affordability_conceptual_issues.pdf |
| van_abs_et_al_2021.08_nj_affordability_assessment.pdf |
Recommendations for Water Supply Conservation and Efficiency Requirements in New York State.
Van Abs, Daniel J. 2020. Prepared for the Rockland Water Coalition.
This report provides an overview of water supply planning law and practices in the State of New York, recommends improvements, and evaluates how those improvements would modify water supply planning and management objectives in the Ramapo River and Hackensack River watersheds of New York (Rockland and Orange Counties.
Van Abs, Daniel J. 2020. Prepared for the Rockland Water Coalition.
This report provides an overview of water supply planning law and practices in the State of New York, recommends improvements, and evaluates how those improvements would modify water supply planning and management objectives in the Ramapo River and Hackensack River watersheds of New York (Rockland and Orange Counties.
| van_abs_2020.07.20_recommendations_for_water_supply_conservation_and_efficiency_requirements_in_nys.pdf |
Water Needs through 2040 for New Jersey Public Community Water Supply Systems (2018)
Van Abs, Daniel J., Jiayi Ding and Eric Pierson. 2018. Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ.
This report examines recent residential, commercial and industrial demands and water losses for New Jersey public community water supply (PCWS) systems, and provides multiple scenarios for PCWS system water demands in the year 2040. This project was funded by and prepared for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Water Supply & Geoscience, through a contract with Rutgers University. Jiayi Ding and Eric Pierson both worked on this project as graduate students in the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning & Public Policy at Rutgers.
Van Abs, Daniel J., Jiayi Ding and Eric Pierson. 2018. Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ.
This report examines recent residential, commercial and industrial demands and water losses for New Jersey public community water supply (PCWS) systems, and provides multiple scenarios for PCWS system water demands in the year 2040. This project was funded by and prepared for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Water Supply & Geoscience, through a contract with Rutgers University. Jiayi Ding and Eric Pierson both worked on this project as graduate students in the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning & Public Policy at Rutgers.
| van_abs_et_al_2018.01.19_water_needs_through_2040_for_nj_pcws_final_.pdf |
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Preliminary Assessment of the Ramapo and Hackensack Watersheds in Rockland and Orange Counties (2017)
Van Abs, Daniel J., Jennifer Ryan and Mukta Ramola. Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ. This report provides a summary and synthesis of available information regarding two watersheds that are critical to the water supplies of Rockland County, NY. It also provides preliminary scopes of work for a variety of short-term and more complex planning projects to improve protection of those watersheds. The project was funded by and prepared for the County of Rockland, through a contract with Rutgers University. Jennifer Ryan received her Master's in Landscape Architecture from Rutgers in 2017. Mukta Ramola worked on this project as a graduate student in the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning & Public Policy at Rutgers. |
| van_abs_et_al_2017.12.30_preliminary_assessment_of_the_ramapo_and_hackensack_watersheds_final_red.pdf |
Taking Chances: The Coast after Hurricane Sandy (2016)
Karen O'Neill and Daniel J. Van Abs, editors. Rutgers University Press.
Available from: https://www.rutgersuniversitypress.org/taking-chances/9780813573793.
This 2016 book from Rutgers University Press assesses the extent to which Hurricane Sandy fostered transformative change in a wide variety of fields, including land development, disaster preparedness, water and electric utilities, and municipal operations. Karen O'Neill, PhD, served as lead editor and co-author. I served as junior editor and author of Chapter 12: “Water Utilities: Storm Preparedness and Restoration.”
Karen O'Neill and Daniel J. Van Abs, editors. Rutgers University Press.
Available from: https://www.rutgersuniversitypress.org/taking-chances/9780813573793.
This 2016 book from Rutgers University Press assesses the extent to which Hurricane Sandy fostered transformative change in a wide variety of fields, including land development, disaster preparedness, water and electric utilities, and municipal operations. Karen O'Neill, PhD, served as lead editor and co-author. I served as junior editor and author of Chapter 12: “Water Utilities: Storm Preparedness and Restoration.”
Evaluation of the Suez Water-New York, Rockland County Water Supply (2016)
Prepared for the Rockland Water Coalition
This report evaluates water supply issues related to the rate case of Suez Water-New York (Suez) under Case 16-W-0130, before the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC). The report served as background information used by the Rockland Water Coalition in support of expert witness testimony but was not submitted as expert testimony itself. The focus is on water conservation and the reduction of water losses; the most reasonable, sustainable and cost-effective potential incremental supply sources; and doing so in a way that is likely to be cost effective and least harmful to the environment.
The report summarizes public information from various filings and relevant background materials regarding these issues, identifies key points of agreement or distinction, and recommends approaches to improving the net results of work by Suez, all levels of government involved in Rockland County water supply issues (including the Rockland County Task Force on Water Resource Management), and non-governmental interests such as RWC and its member organizations. All information used in this report is considered to be in the public domain.
Prepared for the Rockland Water Coalition
This report evaluates water supply issues related to the rate case of Suez Water-New York (Suez) under Case 16-W-0130, before the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC). The report served as background information used by the Rockland Water Coalition in support of expert witness testimony but was not submitted as expert testimony itself. The focus is on water conservation and the reduction of water losses; the most reasonable, sustainable and cost-effective potential incremental supply sources; and doing so in a way that is likely to be cost effective and least harmful to the environment.
The report summarizes public information from various filings and relevant background materials regarding these issues, identifies key points of agreement or distinction, and recommends approaches to improving the net results of work by Suez, all levels of government involved in Rockland County water supply issues (including the Rockland County Task Force on Water Resource Management), and non-governmental interests such as RWC and its member organizations. All information used in this report is considered to be in the public domain.
A River for the People: A Public Access Plan for the Lower Passaic River (2015)
Van Abs, Daniel J., Yuling Gao, Jiayi Ding and Samantha Saydak. Passaic River Coalition, Morristown, NJ.
This plan was developed for the Passaic River Coalition to foster continued improvement of river access and riverbank restoration along the eastern bank of the Passaic River from Garfield to Harrison, NJ. This document updates and supersedes a set of three plans developed in 1982, 1984 and 1987 by the Passaic River Coalition. The three co-authors were all Rutgers University students at the time, working as summer interns in 2015. My involvement was as a volunteer Trustee of the Passaic River Coalition, project manager and co-author in a pro bono capacity.
Van Abs, Daniel J., Yuling Gao, Jiayi Ding and Samantha Saydak. Passaic River Coalition, Morristown, NJ.
This plan was developed for the Passaic River Coalition to foster continued improvement of river access and riverbank restoration along the eastern bank of the Passaic River from Garfield to Harrison, NJ. This document updates and supersedes a set of three plans developed in 1982, 1984 and 1987 by the Passaic River Coalition. The three co-authors were all Rutgers University students at the time, working as summer interns in 2015. My involvement was as a volunteer Trustee of the Passaic River Coalition, project manager and co-author in a pro bono capacity.
Water Infrastructure in New Jersey’s CSO Cities: Elevating the Importance of Upgrading New Jersey’s Urban Water Systems (2014). Van Abs, Daniel J., Alexander McClean, Ioanna Tsoulou, Yuling Gao and Tim Evans.
A Report for New Jersey Future. Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey. New Brunswick, NJ. Available from: www.njfuture.org/2014/05/06/new-report-water-infrastructure/
This report evaluated water infrastructure issues in the 21 New Jersey municipalities that have combined sewer systems and regulated combined sewer overflows (CSOs). The report documented major water infrastructure issues in these municipalities that will likely cost billions of dollars to rectify, including both new CSO requirements and problems of aging water infrastructure. The report also addresses issues of affordability using national metrics. New Jersey Future has used the report as the technical basis for their report, Ripple Effects: The State of Water Infrastructure in New Jersey Cities and Why It Matters, and a major project to improve and advance municipal capacity for and action regarding water infrastructure, and building support for innovative CSO control programs that benefit urban revitalization.
A Report for New Jersey Future. Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey. New Brunswick, NJ. Available from: www.njfuture.org/2014/05/06/new-report-water-infrastructure/
This report evaluated water infrastructure issues in the 21 New Jersey municipalities that have combined sewer systems and regulated combined sewer overflows (CSOs). The report documented major water infrastructure issues in these municipalities that will likely cost billions of dollars to rectify, including both new CSO requirements and problems of aging water infrastructure. The report also addresses issues of affordability using national metrics. New Jersey Future has used the report as the technical basis for their report, Ripple Effects: The State of Water Infrastructure in New Jersey Cities and Why It Matters, and a major project to improve and advance municipal capacity for and action regarding water infrastructure, and building support for innovative CSO control programs that benefit urban revitalization.
Effects of Land Development on Water Resources of the Pinelands Region (2014)
Van Abs, Daniel J., Oliver Stringham, Yuling Gao and Tim Evans. Prepared for New Jersey Future. Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey. New Brunswick, NJ. Available from: www.njfuture.org/research-publications/research-reports/growing-smart-water-wise/
This report provides a comprehensive survey of water indicators in three diverse growth areas of the New Jersey Pinelands, examining water quantity, water quality, watershed integrity and the state of wastewater, stormwater and public drinking water supply systems. New Jersey Future subsequently developed recommendations for consideration by the Pinelands Commission, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection and local governments, in their report, Growing Smart and Water Wise: Protecting Water Resources in the Growth Areas of the New Jersey Pinelands.
Van Abs, Daniel J., Oliver Stringham, Yuling Gao and Tim Evans. Prepared for New Jersey Future. Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey. New Brunswick, NJ. Available from: www.njfuture.org/research-publications/research-reports/growing-smart-water-wise/
This report provides a comprehensive survey of water indicators in three diverse growth areas of the New Jersey Pinelands, examining water quantity, water quality, watershed integrity and the state of wastewater, stormwater and public drinking water supply systems. New Jersey Future subsequently developed recommendations for consideration by the Pinelands Commission, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection and local governments, in their report, Growing Smart and Water Wise: Protecting Water Resources in the Growth Areas of the New Jersey Pinelands.
Water Resources Baseline Assessment Report (2013)
Prepared for New Jersey Future on behalf of the North Jersey Sustainable Communities Consortium. Trenton, NJ.
Available from: http://togethernorthjersey.com/?page_id=19971
This report was prepared for New Jersey Future under contract to the North Jersey Sustainable Communities Consortium. It evaluates ground and surface water quality, water availability, and public water supply, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure in the 13 northern counties of New Jersey that are within the jurisdiction of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority. The report provides baseline information for use by the Together North Jersey project funded in part by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Prepared for New Jersey Future on behalf of the North Jersey Sustainable Communities Consortium. Trenton, NJ.
Available from: http://togethernorthjersey.com/?page_id=19971
This report was prepared for New Jersey Future under contract to the North Jersey Sustainable Communities Consortium. It evaluates ground and surface water quality, water availability, and public water supply, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure in the 13 northern counties of New Jersey that are within the jurisdiction of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority. The report provides baseline information for use by the Together North Jersey project funded in part by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
