New Jersey Seeks to Conserve Water by Using Reclaimed Wastewater

The NJDEP has proposed new rules to encourage more reclamation of treated wastewater for a variety of uses such as irrigation of lawns, parks, and athletic fields, as well as in industrial processes. 

The proposed amendments to the New Jersey Pollutant Discharge Elimination System rule set high treatment standards for reclaimed water. They require wastewater facilities that discharge into coastal water bodies or those that are located in Critical Water Supply Areas to study the feasibility of using reclaimed water as a condition of NJPDES permits. These are areas that stand to benefit most from wastewater reclamation because of stressed water supplies. The DEP will exempt facilities from the feasibility study requirement in cases where reductions in discharges of treated wastewater would have adverse effects on water resources. Wastewater treatment facilities that produce an average of less than 100,000 gallons per day will also be exempt.

Reclaimed wastewater has the potential to be used widely to irrigate golf courses, parks, athletic fields, highway medians, sod farms, pasture lands and certain crops, such as those that are peeled or processed before consumption. Industries can also use reclaimed water to cool equipment, to wash parts and to operate equipment. The public comment for the NJDPES rule proposal ends May 16. http://www.state.nj.us/dep/dwq/reuseff.htm