Newark’s Water Infrastructure Lessons for 2026

On Newark’s South 11th Street sits a new, 40-unit affordable apartment building with  flushing toilets and running sinks. Underneath sits a newly installed 12-inch water main pipe, replacing an aged 6-inch for improved water flow and pressure.  

Throughout the city, new apartment buildings and residential homes are on the rise. In  tandem, Newark is strengthening its water and sewer infrastructure for a more sustainable future.  

“There is a huge construction boom right now in Newark,” says Asadullah Jamali, Principal Civil Engineer for Newark’s Water and Sewer Utility. In 2024, the city approved new water and sewer connections for 34 major developments and 167 two to three family homes.  

Looking ahead to 2026, Newark’s construction boom isn’t slowing down. And neither is the demand for Newark’s water.  

Roughly nine miles west of Lower Manhattan, Newark’s population grew 12.4% between 2010 and 2020, according to census data. As roughly 30,000 more people choose to call Newark home, Mayor Ras Baraka’s administration is reinforcing Newark’s water infrastructure to sustain this steady population growth.  

Mr. Jamali leads a team of seven employees at Newark’s Water and Sewer Utility to review, approve and oversee water and sewer connections for new developments across the city. The review verifies if the existing infrastructure has the right flow and pressure to meet the new water demand; otherwise, the water main may need to be rehabilitated, or replaced entirely.  

Water main replacement and rehabilitation via cleaning and lining are major infrastructure improvements and can pose temporary disruptions in the neighborhood, such as trench style excavation road work and water service connections to a temporary, above-ground bypass system. 

Amid the current influx in water demand, Mr. Jamali and his team are driven by one guiding principle: sustainable infrastructure. As one construction after another goes up, the team ensures the water system is never overextended or strained. Equally important is keeping Newark residents informed about upcoming water main work through mail notices, community meetings and other proactive methods of outreach that explains the lasting benefits of these infrastructure improvements for Newarkers. 

In 2026 and beyond, Newark is embarking on several projects down the pipeline to prepare its water system to serve a larger population. 

One of those projects is the replacement of 150,000 linear feet of aged water mains across the city. In echo of Newark’s nationally acclaimed Lead Service Line Replacement program, the city continues to implement a proactive and forward-looking approach to water infrastructure enhancements. 

“It is Newark’s goal to replace every aged water pipe in the city,” Mr. Jamali said. “We expect another jump in population in 2026 and that means new housing, new office buildings and higher water use across the board. Demand is climbing fast and we’re staying ahead of it.” 

There are over 600 miles of water and wastewater pipes, nearly the same distance that separates Newark from Detroit, Michigan. As funding allows, New Jersey’s largest municipality is taking a piece-by-piece approach to replacement and rehabilitation, starting in the next two years with 28.4 miles of the most vulnerable and aged pipes. 

Upgrades for new constructions are typically developer-funded, as was the case for the apartment complex on South 11th Street and Iberia II. However, for the citywide project, Newark plans to utilize low-interest state-revolving funds, garnering cost savings for ratepayers in the long run. 

Looking ahead on the sewer side, Newark is designing a computer-based sanitary sewer model, a tool that calculates the flow of wastewater during dry and wet weather conditions. During rainy conditions and flooding, the model can determine where the City’s sewer system might need improvements to reduce surges, bottlenecks, or overflows. 

“Just as important as water distribution is sewer collections and stormwater management,” Mr. Jamali said. “With more impervious surfaces due to the construction boom, Newark is investing in stormwater drainage improvement projects to prevent flooding and keep Newark’s residents safe.” 

Across the country, water utilities like Newark are reckoning with the latest wave of population growth, new housing projects and making sure the system is ready for what lies ahead. Sustainable infrastructure is not a quick fix; it is a steady commitment through foresight, planning and persistence. 

The future of Newark doesn’t stem from its growth alone; it flows from the strength of the systems built to sustain it. 

 

By Julissa Coplin. She is the Public Information Officer at the Department of Water & Sewer Utilities in Newark, New Jersey. She may be reached at Coplinj@ci.newark.nj.us 

This column is featured in our January issue of American Infrastructure, read the print version here.