Protecting Our Waterways, One Choice at a Time: NHSA at City of Water Day 2026
IN THE COMMUNITY
Hoboken, N.J. — At City of Water Day, the North Hudson Sewerage Authority brought its mission to the Hudson River waterfront, connecting flood resilience and clean water to the everyday choices residents make at home.
The North Hudson Sewerage Authority (NHSA) joined communities across New York and New Jersey this past weekend for City of Water Day, the region's annual celebration of its harbor and waterfront—and an opportunity to remind residents that protecting local waterways starts with the choices we make every day.
Set along the Hudson River at Maxwell Place Park in Hoboken, the event drew families and neighbors for a day of kayaking, hands-on educational workshops, and estuary exploration. For NHSA, it was a chance to bring its core mission directly to the public: protecting local waterways and efficiently managing the region's wastewater treatment system. At the NHSA tent, staff spoke with attendees about flooding, stormwater management, and the important role residents play in protecting local infrastructure.
Increasingly, that work is shaped by a changing climate. “Every project that we've worked on in probably the last 10 to 15 years now has had climate change at the forefront of it,” said Don Conger, authority engineer at the North Hudson Sewerage Authority.
Investments that are working
In recent years, NHSA has completed major flood-mitigation and sewer infrastructure upgrades throughout North Hudson, building climate resilience into projects designed to reduce flooding during increasingly intense rainstorms. Those investments are already producing measurable results.
“We are actually seeing an 88% reduction in the flooding in Hoboken,” Conger said.
That work goes hand in hand with NHSA's Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Long-Term Control Plan—a comprehensive, long-range strategy to reduce combined sewer overflows into the Hudson River during heavy rainfall and improve the health of our shared waterways. By modernizing infrastructure and managing stormwater more effectively, the plan is helping NHSA protect water quality for the communities it serves and for generations to come.
How residents can help
While infrastructure does much of the heavy lifting, NHSA officials used City of Water Day to emphasize that residents are essential partners in keeping the system running and the water clean.
“Don't flush anything other than toilet paper down the toilet. No grease. No fats, oils or grease down your sink or toilet,” said Omar Vicioso, NHSA's director of communications and chief of staff to the Executive Director.
Wipes, paper towels, and hygiene products may seem harmless, but they can clog sewer systems and lead to costly blockages and backups. NHSA encourages residents to dispose of cooking oils and grease properly rather than pouring them down the drain, and to avoid littering—since debris can make its way into the sewer system and, ultimately, the Hudson River.
The message NHSA hoped attendees carried home is a simple one: individual choices add up to cleaner water and more resilient communities.
“Bring your kids… enjoy the Hudson River and be mindful about the Hudson River,” Vicioso said.
NHSA in the news
City of Water Day also drew local media attention to NHSA's work. CBS News New York featured an interview with the Authority, and Slice of Culture published a story on the event and NHSA's role in flood mitigation and water quality.
● Watch the CBS News New York interview
● Read the Slice of Culture article
Thank you
A special thank-you to the Fund for a Better Waterfront for having us at the event. We're also grateful to everyone who stopped by our tent, asked questions, and joined us in celebrating one of our region's greatest natural resources. Events like City of Water Day remind us that water connects us all—and that protecting it is a shared responsibility. Together, we can continue safeguarding our waterways, strengthening our communities, and building a more sustainable future.