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The New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust provides low-cost financing for the construction of environmental infrastructure projects that enhance and protect ground and surface water resources, ensure the safety of drinking water supplies, and make possible responsible and sustainable economic development. New Jersey enjoys a national reputation as a leader in innovative and effective environmental protection strategies. The New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust and its Environmental Infrastructure Financing Program have helped earn this reputation. Since its creation in 1986, as the first program of its kind in the country, the Trust has played a major role in helping New Jersey meet one of our most fundamental environmental priorities - maintaining and improving the quality of our water resources. New Jersey is rich in water resources. We enjoy abundant rainfall, giving rise to many beautiful streams, rivers and lakes. Our Atlantic coastline provides recreation, helps shape our sense of identity, and makes a significant contribution to the state's economy. Yet at the same time, New Jersey is home to a great deal of industrial development, as well as some of the most densely populated land areas to be found anywhere in the world. This presents a special challenge as we work to foster personal and economic growth without allowing the inevitable waste products of a growing state to degrade the quality of our ground and surface waters. Controlling pollution and providing safe, abundant drinking water requires heavy capital investment. Environmental infrastructure is costly to build and that expense is ultimately born by the individual ratepayer and taxpayer. Keeping costs to the public as low as possible has been the role of the Trust since its inception. Working in partnership with the NJ Department of Environmental Protection, the Trust has devised a system to leverage the funds available from the federal government to make more money available at the lowest possible cost. Since 1985, the Financing Program has provided nearly $4 billion to local and county government units and some private water companies to finance wastewater systems, combined sewer overflow abatement, nonpoint source pollution control, safe drinking water supplies and open space acquisition. Thanks to a combination of low interest rates and other cost saving features, the Financing Program has saved New Jersey ratepayers and taxpayers $1.2 billion.