Local Residents Launch 'Edison Water Watch'

EDISON, NJ — The South Edison Community Association (SECA) has created a new grassroots citizens committee called “Edison Water Watch” to “monitor, advise and support” Edison Township’s new Water & Sewer Utility.

“Our goal is to protect people’s water quality and their wallets,” said Edison Water Watch chairperson Dawn Santana. “This is not political, it’s personal. Over 12,000 South Edison property owners pay water and sewer fees for this new utility. Everyone pays taxes. Everyone wants clean, affordable drinking water and toilets that flush. It doesn’t get more personal.”

SECA created the Edison Water Watch committee “too late to engage with town officials” about the new 4.9-percent sewer rate increase, Santana said. “But, our neighbors have other concerns. They worry that water rates will skyrocket too. They worry about maintenance and repair delays. And all of us occasionally get rusty water from our faucets,” Santana said.

The Edison Water Watch intends to:

• Monitor, assist and support the town’s new Water & Sewer Utility.
• Examine the utility’s policies, hiring practices and outside contracts; repair costs; responsiveness to property owners; and make helpful recommendations.
• Promote clean water initiatives and support healthy rivers, streams and water supplies.
• Host public forums and partner with environmental groups to promote clean, safe drinking water.

Edison Water Watch volunteers include civil engineer Jeffrey Reeves; financial expert David Brennan; Edison Greenways president Robert Takash; biochemical engineer Jill Mesonas; community activist Rajesh Patel; and small-business owner Anthony Russomanno.

Learn more about Edison Water Watch: www.southedisoncommunityassociation.com/projects.