New York, NY —

Environmentalists in New Jersey are rallying against a bill they say will put the state's drinking water supply in danger and promote sprawl. The measure would transfer management of water quality to the State Planning Commission, which clean water advocates say would weaken current rules.

Jim Waltman, executive director of Stony Brook Millstone Watershed says the change would also imperil the state's economy, "Further degrading our already degraded water supplies is only going to add to our huge fiscal woes as a state."

Activists say weakened water infrastructure can result in flooding, which costs the state hundreds of millions of dollars.

The state Department of Environmental Protection says it opposes the bill in its current form.

The state agency that includes the state planning commission has not responded to a request for comment.