New Jersey
New Jersey American Water seeks $10 a month rate increase
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New Jersey American Water wants to increase its customers’ water bills to help fund more than $1 billion in water and wastewater projects.
The investor-owned utility said the average customer could expect to pay an additional $10 per month if the request is approved by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. That could make the average monthly residential water bill rise to $93.89.
Customers served by sanitary wastewater systems would see an average increase of $8 per month. Households that receive both services could see a combined impact of about $18 per month, depending on their service area, meter size, and usage.
New Jersey American Water said the rate increase is essential to improve aging infrastructure, replace dangerous lead service lines and address toxic chemicals such as PFAS. President Mark McDonough said the revenue would ensure the company can deal with problems before they become acute.
“This rate case is really aimed at the investments we’re already making to stay ahead of problems,” he said. “If we do good planning and we’re proactive in prudent investment, we can really keep our customers receiving safe, reliable water and we maintain the affordability that we have.”
The request comes roughly 16 months after the company increased rates by more than $5 per month.
Water infrastructure across the U.S. is aging, and according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the nation needs at least $630 billion over the next 20 years for stormwater and wastewater projects alone. When combined with drinking water upgrades, water providers need a total of more than $1 trillion.
“Rate increases are definitely something that we see all around the country because of upward pressure on rates that’s driven by the need to invest in aging water systems,” said Larry Levine, a senior attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council’s environmental health program.
Water providers are faced with new federal regulations requiring them to remove toxic chemicals such as PFAS from drinking water, replace lead pipes and to reduce wastewater discharges into waterways. Though the federal government under the Biden administration set aside billions of dollars to upgrade water and sewer infrastructure, providers say more funding is needed.
Pennsylvania American Water similarly filed a request with the Pennsylvania Utility Commission in November to fund $1.2 billion in water and wastewater system upgrades. If approved, the average water customer would pay an additional $14 per month on their bills.
While some rate increase is expected, it is unlikely that New Jersey American Water will be awarded the full request, said Brian Lipman, director of the New Jersey Division of the Rate Counsel, a state agency that advocates to keep costs affordable for ratepayers. He said the agency does its best to ensure rate increases are necessary to support infrastructure investments without unduly impacting consumers.
In an effort to alleviate the burden on rate payers, New Jersey American Water is seeking approval from the BPU to expand access to monthly bill discounts through its H2O Help to Others program. The company is asking to automatically enroll customers who partake in energy assistance programs like the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP. If approved, New Jersey American Water would be the only utility in the state to offer automatic enrollment in water bill assistance.
“Water is so fundamental to sustaining life,” McDonough said. “We think it’s very important to have this kind of forward thinking program to be able to help those folks who may need some assistance.”
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill issued an executive order last week that aims to pause further rate increases for energy. However, no similar action has been taken for water bills and there’s currently no state-run program to help residents pay their water bills.
New Jersey
Severe thunderstorms possible in North Jersey Saturday
This is NJ’s chance at seeing a hurricane in the 2026 season
As the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season approaches, weather experts from various outlets have begun to release their seasonal outlooks.
Severe thunderstorms are possible across North Jersey on June 6, with damaging winds, hail and heavy rain all in the forecast as a cold front moves through the region, according to the National Weather Service.
Forecasters said another hot afternoon is expected before storms develop late Saturday and continue into Saturday night. Temperatures are expected to climb well into the 80s across much of the area, with lower 90s possible in the urban Northeast New Jersey corridor.
The main threat window is expected to run from about 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., according to a Saturday morning briefing from the NWS office in New York.
The strongest storms could bring wind gusts above 58 mph, enough to damage trees and power lines and cause scattered outages. Large hail around an inch is also possible, along with heavy downpours that could lead to localized flooding in urban areas, poor drainage spots and along quick-responding streams and creeks.
The Storm Prediction Center placed most of the region under a slight risk for severe weather, a level two out of five. The highest chance for severe storms is expected to be north and west of the I-95 corridor, though forecasters said storms could affect a broader area depending on how the system develops.
The NWS said there is still some uncertainty in the forecast, including how much storm activity develops during the afternoon and whether the timing limits the severity of storms later in the day.
The storms are expected to move through as a cold front sweeps across the area. Conditions are expected to turn mainly dry Sunday and into the middle of next week, with temperatures gradually warming again.
For those heading to the Shore, forecasters also warned of a high risk of rip currents at Atlantic-facing beaches Saturday. Rip currents can sweep even strong swimmers away from shore, and the NWS said anyone visiting the beaches should stay out of the surf. Water temperatures below 60 degrees could also quickly cause hypothermia.
Officials advise residents to monitor the forecast, make sure they can receive weather alerts and move indoors if thunder is heard. During severe thunderstorms, people should stay away from windows and avoid driving through flooded roads.
New Jersey
Robots? Podcasts? See inside North Jersey Girl Scouts’ new Dream Lab
Girls Scouts open DreamLab in Paramus
The Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey opened its new Dreamlab in Paramus on June 5, where girls will learn robotics, crafting and indoor camping.
Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey will podcast, learn robotics and experience indoor camping thanks to a new DreamLab that opened in Paramus on June 5.
The 12,000-square-foot DreamLab, the second of its kind in the state and 12th in the country, will offer a variety of labs, workspaces, meeting rooms and other multipurpose spaces to serve North Jersey’s 19,000 Girl Scouts. The organization, open to ages 5 to 18, serves Bergen, Passaic, Morris and Sussex counties and the northern half of Warren County.
The center held a ribbon-cutting on Friday morning with Girl Scout leadership and local dignitaries, including County Executive Jim Tedesco, Commissioner Tracy Zur and Assemblymembers Lisa Swain and Chris Tully.
The Girl Scouts owned the 300 Forest Ave. location for 50 years, primarily using it as office space, but decided to reimagine the space in a $3 million renovation to create new programming space for its members.
Seeing the DreamLab get off the ground was important to Tedesco, whose mother helped found the Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey branch. During the opening ceremony, he recounted his days spent at Girl Scout camp in the summers.
“It actually shaped who I am today,” said Tedesco. “It was what helped make me realize that I wanted to give back to my community as I grew up.”
Tedesco said the space will act as a community hub not just for Girl Scouts, but for nonprofits, local schools and organizations.
A few older scouts lead a design team to help the organization plan activities that would best prepare their fellow members for the world, like investing in robotics and other STEM related activities.
“We worked together not only to design a space where girls of all ages can come to enrich themselves, but also select programs that we believe can be highly beneficial and educational,” said 18-year-old Yasmine Lalani, one of the Girl Scout design team ambassadors.
One scout alumni, 19-year-old Isabella Santa Cruz of Glen Rock, even worked with the center to help build a sensory room as a safe space for neurodivergent members.
“Inclusion isn’t just a feature, but a foundation of meaningful impact,” Santa Cruz said. “The sensory room provides a peaceful sanctuary to escape the noise, listen to their inner voices and develop the self-awareness they need to lead.”
During the DreamLab’s first day, visitors could try out the space’s many features, including a podcast room, 3D printers, a kid-safe power tool called a Chomp Saw and test out Sphero BOLT, a robotic ball that is controlled and programmed with an app.
“I’m really excited for the girls to come in here,” said Nicole Ricci, 23, a Girl Scout alumni helping people try the Sphero BOLT. “It will be a great space for them to be creative and learn.”
Sandra Kenoff, CEO of the Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey, is hopeful the DreamLab will inspire the next generation of leaders.
“From the beginning, we were committed to ensuring this space reflects the voices of the girls and the communities we serve,” said Kenoff.
New Jersey
Can Saharan dust reach New Jersey?
3 amazing ways Saharan dust impacts planet Earth
Every massive plumes of dust rise from Africa’s Sahara Desert and blow over the Atlantic travelling as far as the U.S. and the Amazon in South America.
GeoBeats, GeoBeats
The first round of Saharan dust for summer 2026 is set to sweep over parts of the U.S. Southeast this weekend. AccuWeather expects it to hit Gulf Coast soon, and new waves are expected come all summer.
Also known as the Saharan Air Layer, the annual weather phenomenon can help dampen hurricanes. It makes sunsets and sunrises look dramatic and can negatively affect air quality.
Now, does the Saharan dust reaches the Northeast? Can it reach New Jersey? Here’s what to know about the Saharan dust.
What is Saharan dust?
Just like the name suggests, dust and dirt from the Sahara Desert in Africa are swept across the globe.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the dry, dusty air forms over the arid region from spring through autumn. Trade winds can catch the dust, pushing a miles-thick layer in the atmosphere thousands of feet above the ground.
Which states are affected? Does Sahara dust reaches New Jersey?
The Sahara Dust typically affects the Caribbean, Bahamas, Florida and areas nearby. According to NOAA, it can reach as far west at Texas.
The massive plumes pushed across the ocean can be as large as the lower 48 states, and the dust can reach New Jersey, though with minimal impact.
Previous reporting suggests that when the dust reaches New Jersey, its effect is not perceptible inland, but those living by the ocean can suffer mild effects from it. Sahara dust tends to produce hazy skies and dry air.
This time around, the forecast doesn’t expect the dust from the coming wave reaching the Northeast.
➤ What is ‘dirty rain’? How Saharan dust can impact the weather
When does Saharan dust reach the U.S.? When does Sahara dust season peak?
Saharan dust season typically starts mid-June and peaks from late June to mid-August, according to NOAA. In the U.S., bands can hit about every three to five days.
How does Saharan dust affect air quality? Can it cause coughing or sinus issues?
Saharan dust can affect air quality and trigger coughing and sinus issues for some people, especially if the coverage is thick.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines the weather phenomenon as a form of particulate pollution. It’s made of sand and minerals, but it’s not the same kind of dust as the household variety with dust mites.
People with asthma or other health issues affected by air quality might want to stay inside as much as possible when the dust is heavy in their area.
If you’re concerned about breathing in the particles, use a mask outside and an air purifier with a filter indoors.
According to information from Baptist Health System, the respiratory issues caused by the dust can mimic a COVID-19 infection. Coughing and chest tightness with no fever might be an allergic reaction or your body responding to an irritant.
The Instituto Espaillat Cabral, an ophthalmology center in the Dominican Republic, recommends wearing protective eyewear and keeping your eyes hydrated to keep the dust from irritating your eyes. If you get debris in your eye, avoid rubbing it.
Does Saharan dust ‘stop’ hurricanes?
Saharan dust can suppress the energy needed for hurricanes to form and intensify. It’s more like starving a storm than making one stop in its tracks.
Large amounts of dust can keep the surface of the ocean slightly cooler, which can help prevent storms from growing or forming.
According to the National Weather Service, the lower humidity and warm, dry air can also weaken an existing storm with downdrafts or throw off the heat signature of a cyclone.
Juan Carlos Castillo is a New Jersey-based trending reporter for the USA Today network. He covers weather, and national events focusing on how they affect New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware.
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