The July 2026 storms exposed long-standing infrastructure challenges in New Jersey and left residents angrily asking why systems continue to struggle when heavy rain has become increasingly common.
Our latest analysis examines how the state's water, transportation and energy systems performed and what the response revealed about the state's infrastructure.
When heavy rain hits cities like Newark, Jersey City and Camden, it can overwhelm century-old sewer systems and send a mixture of stormwater and untreated sewage into nearby waterways. New Jersey has combined sewer overflow (CSO) outfalls across 21 municipalities, discharging an estimated 23 billion gallons of sewage and stormwater each year.
More than water is wasted when a water main breaks. Businesses lose revenue, treated water goes to waste, and emergency repairs cost more. Here’s a breakdown of the real economic impact of deferred maintenance.
Governor Mikie Sherrill will be sworn in on January 20, 2026. The state’s aging drinking, waste, and storm water infrastructures will need her immediate attention.
"Last week's 20-inch water main break was one of the largest in the township, initially impacting 20,000 residents in the southern section of the municipality."
