Newark Water Agency to be Disbanded

NJ.com reported Tuesday the agency that manages tens of thousands of acres of Newark watershed property will be disbanded in May, when its functions will be transferred to the city.

The Newark Watershed Conservation Development Corporation, which runs a water system serving a half-million customers in the city and surrounding towns, had long been plagued by reports of mismanagement and excessive spending. Since last year, members of the Newark Municipal Council have called for an investigation of the agency.

Among the complaints lodged against the watershed corporation was that it functioned as the city’s de facto water utility, in violation of municipal statutes stating the water system must be run by an official appointed by the elected members of the council.

The role of the watershed corporation and its functions placed under local control. The group also fought a proposal by Mayor Cory Booker to create an autonomous authority to run the city’s water utility, circulating a petition to defeat the move.  The group Tuesday said in a statement it was heartened by the decision to dissolve the conservation corporation. 

“The Newark Water Group is happy to hear that the Booker administration has decided to return the management of the Newark Watershed to the public realm where it belongs.  For many years, The Newark Water Group has been committed to keeping Newark’s water and sewer system and watershed property under the direct control of our elected officials and accountable to the citizens of Newark,” the statement read in part.

South Ward Councilman Ras Baraka told Nj.com the new, in-house agency will first be called upon to improve the collection rate for water fees, which are around 40 percent.