The development funding is not mentioned in the article or from the university sites. Therefore, personally will assume that the funding is raised by the university and relevant engineering associations.
I agree that Newark had terrible water but a big issue is the funding to fix the problem... and the artical goes into all the research about the water but neglects to talk about federal and local funding.
Since Newark is a major port for all transportation methods, it indirectly produces a lot of air pollution because of most of these vehicles in result people living in areas close to the ports suffer more from air pollution in terms of health.
this diagram represents poverty rates from 15 years ago. this is the history of newarks poverty rates towards families children and more.
One process to consider is that alot of Newark Environmental and Public Health laws had not been changed since the 1950's, so that allowed for continuing of neglegence over the course of history in terms of environmental justice. Other social processes that might have played a part is race and class. Low-rise and dense housing for low-income and minority civilians have become major victims of careless industrialization.
Newark school's reported that their almost half of buildings have lead in their water. This is creating immense vulnerability in Essex County, and the issue in Newark dates back to about four years ago. This problem also stems from the history of lead-based paint, which was outlawed in 1978, but still can be found in many homes, and poisons children.