New Jersey has many spectacular rivers and coastlines, from the Delaware River to the southern Jersey shore. Unfortunately, nearly eighty percent of our rivers, lakes, and streams are too polluted for fishing or swimming.

New Jersey Community Water Watch is a joint program between AmeriCorps and the NJPIRG Law and Policy Center. Water Watch works to empower students and community members to address water quality problems in New Jersey's urban areas through education and service.

We have three major program areas that we use to address water quality problems.

River Cleanups
New Jersey Community Water Watch works to remove trash and debris from riverbanks while raising community awareness of local water quality issues through community waterway cleanups. Cleanups deliver immediate results to the waterway, but also provide a hands-on opportunity to engage volunteers in making a difference in their own community. Each year, Water Watch AmeriCorps members recruit thousands of community volunteers and college students at each site to help organize and attend cleanups across the state.

Stream Monitoring
New Jersey Community Water Watch is dedicated to serving as the eyes and ears of local waterways across the state. Water Watch AmeriCorps members at each site work with volunteers, community organizations, and local and state governments to provide much-needed research about the health of our state's waterways. We recruit volunteers to collect samples out in the field so that government programs can test for various types of pollution. We also work to map local waterways and identify sources of pollution.

Environmental Education
New Jersey Community Water Watch educates and trains college students, children, and community members about the state of local water quality and the steps that people can take to make an impact in their community. Water Watch AmeriCorps members and volunteers organize campus and community-wide educational forums and conduct hands-on educational programs for K-12 students. Read about Education Week 2008.