Water is more than a resource—it is life. Across spiritual traditions, water is not a commodity or resource but a living relative, a sacred gift and a fundamental human right. Yet across New Jersey, our water systems –and the people who rely upon them—are under threat.
Three New Jersey communities, Matawan, Trenton and Hopewell, are facing critical moments in the fight to protect public water. In Matawan, a public hearing is scheduled for August 19, 2025 to discuss the potential privatization of its water system. Residents have begun a petition and social media page in opposition, urging alternatives. Meanwhile, in Trenton, residents were recently stunned by a surprise visit from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette, captured by The Jersey Vindicator’s reporting on lead and water safety concerns.
The commissioner reportedly compared Trenton’s situation to the water crisis in Flint, Michigan and Jackson, Mississippi—two cities that became symbols of environmental injustice and government failure. Although Commissioner LaTourette pledged that privatization is not on the table, the tone and urgency of his visit have left residents unsettled.
These situations highlight a growing concern: who controls our water, and who gets to decide?
Why is privatization the wrong path? With privatization comes:
1. Higher water bills for residents
2. Reduced transparency and local oversight
3. Low investment in long-term infrastructure
4. Disproportionate harm to low-income people
Water companies are accountable to shareholders, not to the people who drink the water. This model, at its core, puts profits before public health. However, water is a human right. Pope Francis highlighted this in Laudato Si’, calling it “the condition for the expression of other human rights”. (Waterspirit echoed this in our comments to the United Nations at a Special Event on Sustainable Development Goal 6 on July 22, 2025.)
What are alternatives to water privatization? If possible to avoid privatization, a system might:
1. Public investment and infrastructure upgrades through state funding.
2. Community-based water management that prioritizes equity, resilience and transparency.
3. Regional public utilities or partnerships that retain local control.
What power do we have? The power of civic engagement!
Now more than ever, residents must raise their voices. Decisions about public water must be made with full community input--not behind closed doors or under the pressure of corporate interests.
If you live in Matawan, show up on August 19, 2025. If you’re in Trenton or Hopewell, demand clear timelines, funding plans and guarantees that public water will remain public.
Across New Jersey, may it be clear that water is sacred, water is a right and water must remain in public hands.