CSO Public Engagement Toolkit: Engaging a Diverse and Multi-Generational Urban Community to Craft an Effective CSO Long Term Control Plan

The City of Elizabeth, New Jersey is developing a combined sewer overflow (CSO) Long Term Control Plan (LTCP) to reduce CSO pollutant loadings on receiving waters. Public engagement is a key component of the CSO LTCP process. As a diverse urban community, the City of Elizabeth has provided opportunities for public education and feedback throughout the planning process by employing a range of strategies to reach different segments of the population, including in-person, by mail, multilingual, and web-based consultation. In doing so, the City has worked closely with the community to develop a CSO LTCP that reflects the feedback and priorities of its stakeholders. Particular emphasis has been placed on adapting the City’s public outreach strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic.