What was found
THE FORWARD LAV WATER HEATER CIRCUIT BREAKER POPPED WHILE ON DESCENT INTO EWR. THE LAV SMOKE DETECTOR ACTIVATED AND THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS NOTICED SMOKE IN THE FORWARD LAV SHORTLY AFTER THE C/B POPPED. AN EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED AND THE AIRCRAFT LANDED AT EWR WITHOUT INCIDENT. MAINTENANCE FOUND THE FORWARD LAV WATER HEATER CONNECTOR SHORTED. THE CONNECTOR WAS REMOVED AND REPLACED. THE CONNECTOR WAS DISCONNECTED AND SECURED WHILE THE WATER HEATER WAS PLACARD INOPERATIVE DUE TO NOT BEING IN STOCK. THE C/B WAS PULLED AND COLLARED.