7. a. Beginning no later than 18 months after the effective date of P.L.2017, c.133 (C. 58:31-1 et seq.), every water purveyor shall implement an asset management plan designed to inspect, maintain, repair, and renew its infrastructure consistent with standards established by the American Water Works Association. The asset management plan shall include:

(1) a water main renewal program designed to achieve a 150-year replacement cycle, or other appropriate replacement cycle as determined by a detailed engineering analysis of the asset condition and estimated service lives of the water mains serving the public community water system , or by the department ;

(2) a water supply and treatment program designed to inspect, maintain, repair, renew, and upgrade wells, intakes, pumps, and treatment facilities in accordance with all federal and State regulations, standards established by the American Water Works Association, and any mitigation plan required pursuant to section 5 of P.L.2017, c.133 (C. 58:31-5); and

(3) any other programs, plans, or provisions as may be required by the department pursuant to rules and regulations adopted pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C. 52:14B-1 et seq.).

Each water purveyor shall dedicate adequate funds on an annual basis to address and remediate the highest priority projects as determined by its asset management plan.

All asset management plans and system condition reports shall be certified to by the licensed operator or professional engineer of the public community water system and the responsible corporate officer of the public community water system, if privately held, executive director, if an authority, or mayor or chief executive officer of the municipality, if municipally owned, as applicable. The replacement cycle shall be determined by dividing the miles of water main located in the public community water system by 150 or other appropriate demonstration set forth in the certified asset management plan prepared pursuant to this section.

b. No later than one year after the effective date of P.L.2021, c.262 (C. 58:31-4.1 et al.), and each year thereafter, each water purveyor shall provide to the department and the board, if applicable, a report based on its asset management plan prepared pursuant to subsection a. of this section identifying: (1) the infrastructure improvements completed in the past year and the cost of those improvements, including improvements funded by emergency and routine capital spending; (2) the infrastructure improvements generally planned to be undertaken in the next three years and the estimated cost of those improvements; and (3) the infrastructure improvements that may be required over the next 10 years and the estimated cost of those improvements. A report provided pursuant to this subsection by a municipality, county, or authority that is a water purveyor, is subject to the Local Authorities Fiscal Control Law, P.L.1983, c.313 (C. 40A:5A-1 et seq.), and has a capital program extending beyond three years shall also identify infrastructure improvements to be undertaken pursuant to the asset management plan in the remaining years of the capital program, along with the actual or estimated cost of the improvements. Compliance with this subsection may be demonstrated through the submission of evidence of completion of a detailed, comprehensive planning study, facility master planning study, or other long range planning study that is intended for use in developing three- and ten-year capital improvement plans. A detailed comprehensive planning study, facility master planning study, or other long range planning study submitted pursuant to this subsection shall not be considered a government record pursuant to P.L.1963, c.73 (C. 47:1A-1 et seq.), and shall not be made available for public inspection. A municipal water department or municipal water authority shall also submit the report required pursuant to this subsection to the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs. A water purveyor shall, upon request, provide a copy of its asset management plan to the department, the board, or the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs.

c. The department, the board, and the Department of Community Affairs shall create a centralized portal allowing for electronic submittal of the report required pursuant to subsection b. of this section. The lack of a centralized portal pursuant to this subsection shall not negate the requirement for a water purveyor to submit a report pursuant to subsection b. of this section.

L.2017, c.133, s.7; amended 2021, c.262, s.6.