To the Editor:
During my 35-year career in environmental advocacy, I’ve opposed the privatization of natural resources numerous times. Clean air, land, and water are essential natural resources that must be managed in trust for everyone, and I have always believed strongly in public management.
When it comes to the ballot question regarding whether or not Hopewell Borough should sell its water system to New Jersey American Water, however, I will be voting yes.
I’m grateful to live in a town where residents—and our elected officials—take such decisions seriously. The large crowd that turned out to hear a presentation from opponents of the sale is evidence that participatory democracy is alive and well in Hopewell. I appreciate the diligence, commitment, and sincerity of the opponents.
I am also sympathetic to some of the arguments against the sale. The idea of local control of resources resonates with me.
But there is nothing more essential to the health of our families than the delivery of clean, safe, and healthy water. Let’s be honest with ourselves. Our beloved town is simply not up to this job. We can appreciate the staff who manage our water system. But the system is suffering from decades of deferred maintenance, and we’ve been hit with several violations from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP).
In May, Hopewell residents received a mailing informing us that for 274 days in 2024, managers of our system failed to adequately treat our water with an additive that is used to prevent lead and other metals from leaching into our drinking water.
Change is scary. But so is lead and the forever chemical PFAS that persist in our water system.
New Jersey American Water (NJAW) is already delivering water to Hopewell to supplement our municipal well and that water meets the state of New Jersey’s standards for PFAS compounds. Moreover, the company is committed to meeting the US Environmental Protection Agency’s more stringent standards set under the Biden Administration, despite action by the Trump Administration to postpone the deadline for water systems to meet this stricter standard. According to NJAW “The recently announced plan by the EPA to extend the timeline for compliance would not impact New Jersey American Water’s PFAS compliance or capital plan as the company is committed to complying with the standards in a timely manner.”
Regarding removal of lead from Hopewell’s water system, assuming that the town votes in favor of the referendum, NJAW “intends to complete all replacements within 18-24 months (dependent on resident cooperation), ahead of the NJDEP 2031 deadline.”
Some have suggested that if Hopewell’s water infrastructure is sold to NJAW we would be left to the mercy of the company without any protection for the public interest. This is false.
New Jersey is fortunate to have several public agencies, in addition to NJDEP, that work to protect public health and the public interest.
The New Jersey Water Supply Authority (NJWSA) is charged with preserving both the quantity and quality of the source water that is refined and delivered to the state’s residents by private and public water companies. NJWSA manages the Spruce Run and Round Valley reservoirs on the Raritan River as well as the D&R Canal, another important source of drinking water.
NJWSA works in partnership with NJAW and other private and public water providers, NJDEP, nonprofit organizations like The Watershed Institute, academic institutions, and others to protect watersheds and surface waters through planning and preservation programs.
A second public body, the NJ Board of Public Utilities (BPU), is charged with regulating utilities like NJAW to provide safe, reliable, and reasonably priced services to the public.
In addition, the New Jersey Ratepayer Advocate serves as a watchdog to protect consumers from unfair pricing practices. These agencies and programs are certainly not perfect, but they exist to protect the public interest.
Hopewell residents need to decide for themselves how to vote on the Hopewell water referendum. I’ve decided to vote yes, and I hope that you will join me. The status quo is not acceptable.
Sincerely,
Jim Waltman
Jim Waltman is a resident of Hopewell Borough. He is the executive director of The Watershed Institute, a nonprofit organization that works to keep water clean, safe, and healthy through conservation, advocacy, science, and education. The Watershed Institute has received grant funding from the American Water Charitable Foundation.
