Jersey Water Works (JWW), a collaborative of over 600 individuals and organizations dedicated to transforming New Jersey’s aging water infrastructure, is hosting its 2025 annual conference Dec. 11 at The College of New Jersey, 2000 Pennington Road, Brower Student Center, in Ewing. The event will bring together over 200 water experts, local officials and community leaders.
This year’s theme, “Our Commitment to Future Generations,” focuses on strengthening and scaling the work already underway to address New Jersey’s most urgent water challenges, including lead service line replacement, combined sewer overflows (CSOs), PFAS contamination, water affordability and climate resilience.
The conference provides a critical platform to advance sustainable, cost-effective solutions and celebrate more than a decade of progress in championing a holistic “one water” approach — integrating drinking water, wastewater and stormwater management.
Conference highlights include:
- Cutting-Edge Sessions: Lead service line replacement, PFAS and emerging contaminants, stormwater utilities, green infrastructure and CSO strategies.
- Affordability and Equity: Regional solutions, shared services and funding strategies aimed at ensuring water systems remain safe, accessible and affordable for all communities.
- Networking and Collaboration: More than 200 water professionals, community leaders, advocates and policymakers will convene from across the state.
- Equity in Practice: Sessions centered on ensuring historically overburdened communities benefit from meaningful, long-term improvements.
“The challenges facing our water infrastructure are urgent and growing, but so is our shared commitment to lasting solutions,” said Nicole Miller, JWW Steering Committee co-chair and community advocate.
“The health of our future water systems depends on the actions we take today. This conference is a chance to recommit to New Jersey’s future by prioritizing the stewardship of our environment and water systems alongside some of the brightest minds in the water industry.”
Key speakers include:
- Shawn M. LaTourette, commissioner, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
- Olga Morales-Pate, CEO, Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP)
- Ellen Kohler, director of Applied Research & Policy, The Water Center at Penn
- David Zimmer, executive director, New Jersey Infrastructure Bank
- Larry Levine, director of Urban Water Infrastructure, NRDC
- Alex Wells, P.E., supervising engineer, Passaic Valley Water Commission
- Patricia Lindsay-Harvey, commissioner, Willingboro Municipal Utilities Authority
- Peggy Gallos, executive director, Association of Environmental Authorities
- Amy Goldsmith, New Jersey State director, Clean Water Action
- Ali Pajooman, P.E., program manager, Veolia North America
- Donald C. Shields, P.E., VP & Director of Engineering, New Jersey American Water
The full list of speakers can be found here.
