Water Pollution Management Element
The Watershed Pollution Management Element (WPME) is responsible for protecting New Jersey's ground and surface water quality by assuring the proper treatment and discharge of wastewater (and its residuals) and stormwater from various types of facilities and activities, including the generation, monitoring, and management of sludge and sludge derived products.
One of WPME's main functions is the issuance of NJPDES permits, which
limit the amount of pollutants discharged into the waters of the state.
The NJPDES Program's goals are to: |
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restore, enhance, and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological
integrity of the waters of the state, |
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protect public health and safety, |
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protect potable water supplies, |
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safeguard fish and aquatic life and scenic and ecological values, |
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enhance the domestic, municipal, recreational, industrial, agricultural,
and other uses of water, and |
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prevent, control, and abate water pollution. |
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Much of the Program was created in 1972 by the Federal Clean Water Act.
The NJPDES Program was delegated to New Jersey
by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1981.
The WPME, through the NJPDES
program, has issued 5584 currently active permits. This includes 255 municipal
permits and 422 industrial permits for wastewater discharges to surface
water (excluding stormwater only permits). For stormwater discharges,
3387 NJPDES permits (184 - individual, 3203 - general) have been issued, including
675 for the municipal stormwater program. For ground
water discharges, 1034 NJPDES permits have been issued to both municipal
and industrial facilities including landfills. The Element has also permitted
74 NJPDES Significant Indirect Users (SIUs). These SIU permits are
for facilities
(mostly industries) that have a potential to discharge significant quantities
of wastewater
and/or concentrated pollutants into a sewer system for treatment at a municipal
treatment plant.
In addition, 61 NJPDES permits have been issued to municipal and
private entities for the land application, processing, storage, and distribution
of sewage sludges (residuals) and sludge derived products.
The WPME also regulates alternative designs of onsite wastewater treatment systems
through the issuance of Treatment
Works Approvals.
Regulatory Bureaus in the Water Pollution Management Element:
 Bureau of Surface Water Permitting
Bureau of Nonpoint Pollution Control
Bureau of Pretreatment and Residuals
NJPDES Data Management Support:
Permit Administration Section
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