New Jersey Assembly Bill A3148

New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/7/22
• Refer: 3/7/22

Caption

Establishes NJ Water Data Center at public institution of higher education; appropriates $1 million.

Impact

The bill has significant implications for state water management policies, laying the groundwork for improved data collection and reporting standards. By centralizing water system data, the New Jersey Water Data Center would enhance oversight by state regulators while encouraging utilities to maintain transparency regarding their operations. This could lead to better public health outcomes by addressing issues such as lead contamination and infrastructure inefficiencies; furthermore, it may promote informed decision-making by residents based on accessible data.

Summary

Assembly Bill A3148 aims to establish the New Jersey Water Data Center at a public institution of higher education. The newly created center is intended to collect, analyze, and publish vital data related to the provision of drinking water, as well as the management of wastewater and stormwater in the state. This effort is designed to establish benchmarking data for utilities, provide insights into statewide water management trends for regulators and researchers, and foster connections between residents and their respective water systems. The bill also appropriates $1 million from the General Fund to support the center’s implementation.