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Division of Coastal and Land Use Planning
Water Quality Management Planning Program

The health of our state's water resources is essential to our quality of life in New Jersey. Whether swimming in a lake, casting a fishing line into a meandering brook, or drinking a glass of crystal clear water; our environment provides us the basic necessities of life, which cannot be taken for granted.

To manage our valuable water resources, the Department administers a variety of programs aimed at protecting and restoring water quality, controlling water pollution and ensuring adequate water supplies.

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Water Quality Management Planning Program

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) administers the Statewide Water Quality Management (WQM) Planning rules, N.J.A.C. 7:15, in conjunction with the Statewide WQM Plan, which together constitute the Continuing Planning Process conducted pursuant to the Water Quality Planning Act, N.J.S.A. 58:11A-1 et seq., the Water Pollution Control Act, N.J.S.A. 58:10A-1 et seq., and N.J.S.A. 13:1D-1 et seq., and as required by Sections 303(e) and 208 of the Federal Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.).

The primary purpose of the Water Quality Management Planning Program is to establish policies, procedures, and standards which, wherever attainable, help to restore, enhance and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the waters of the State, including ground waters, and the public trust therein, to protect public health, to safeguard fish and aquatic life and scenic and ecological values, and to enhance the domestic, municipal, recreational, industrial and other uses of water.

Water Quality Management Plans

One of the tools the Department utilizes to assure that both current decision making and future planning adequately take into account protection of water quality and quantity is the Water Quality Management Planning rule, N.J.A.C. 7:15.  The Department develops and administers this rule in conjunction with the Statewide WQM Plan, which together constitute the continuing planning process conducted pursuant to the NJ Water Quality Planning Act and as required by Sections 303(e) and 208 of the Federal Clean Water Act. Accordingly, the WQM Planning rules prescribe water quality management policies, procedures and standards.

In accordance with the Water Quality Management Planning Act and Section 208 of the Clean Water Act, the governor designated twelve areawide Water Quality Management Planning Areas in New Jersey:

Atlantic County
Cape May County
Lower Delaware
Lower Raritan-Middlesex County
Mercer County
Monmouth County
Northeast
Ocean County
Sussex County
Tri-County Area
Upper Delaware
Upper Raritan

The areawide WQM plans (formerly known as 208 plans), as part of the Statewide WQM Plan, are umbrella plans, each with various adopted components that address different aspects of water resource planning.

Wastewater Management Plans

Wastewater Management Plans (WMPs) are an integral component of areawide WQM plans.  The Department relies on the WMP components of the areawide WQM plans to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the cumulative effects of existing and future land use on the water resources of the State and to ensure that the WQM plans integrate related Federal, State, regional and local comprehensive, functional and other relevant land use planning activities through a continuing planning process. 

The intended purpose of the WMPs is to project future development, estimate the wastewater management needs associated with that development, and specify the preferred wastewater treatment alternative for all areas of the State.  These plans also provide the vehicle to ensure that sewer service is not extended into environmentally sensitive areas.  WMPs also identify public water supply service areas of water purveyors and identify the water supply needs associated with proposed development.  Lastly, because WMPs project future land use and shape the pattern and density of development through the wastewater management alternatives selected within given areas, these plans are instrumental in quantifying existing and future nonpoint source pollution loads and in implementing best management practices to reduce those pollutant loads. 

WQM plans must be updated periodically by WMPs in order to reflect and respond to changes in municipal zoning, State and regional planning activities and regulatory standards, and to ensure that the most up to date information is fully incorporated into decisions concerning wastewater management choices.  To accomplish these continuing planning process objectives, WMPs are not static and are required to be updated every six years.

Featured Topics

	May 21, 2012 Proposed Amendment to Provide for the Ocean County Future Wastewater Service Area Map In accordance with the Statewide Water Quality Management Planning rules (N.J.A.C. 7:15-3.4), a public notice for a Proposed Amendment to the Ocean County Water Quality Management (WQM) Plan was published in the New Jersey Register on May 21, 2012 and will be published in the Asbury Park Press and Ocean County Times Beacon on May 24, 2012.  This amendment proposal would provide for a Future Wastewater Service Area for Ocean County.  This amendment proposal submitted by Ocean County is in accordance with P.L.2011, c.203 (enacted on January 17, 2012), which permits a Wastewater Management Planning Agency to prepare and submit to the Department at least that portion of a wastewater management plan designating sewer service area, which shall comply with the Department’s regulatory criteria. Public Notice (pdf) Proposed Future Service Area Maps
	May 21, 2012 Proposed Amendment to Provide for the Somerset County Future Wastewater Service Area Map In accordance with the Statewide Water Quality Management Planning rules (N.J.A.C. 7:15-3.4), a public notice for a Proposed Amendment to the Upper Raritan, Northeast, and Lower Raritan/ Middlesex County Water Quality Management (WQM) Plans was published on May 21, 2012 in the New Jersey Register, The Star Ledger, The Home News Tribune and The Courier News.  This amendment proposal would provide for a Future Wastewater Service Area (FWSA) for Somerset County.  This amendment proposal, was submitted by Somerset County in accordance with P.L.2011, c.203 (enacted on January 17, 2012), which permits a Wastewater Management Planning Agency to prepare and submit to the Department at least that portion of a wastewater management plan designating sewer service area, which shall comply with the Department’s regulatory criteria. Public Notice (pdf) Future Map (pdf) Existing Map (pdf) More detailed information on the development of their wastewater management plan and the FWSA draft map is available on the Somerset County Planning Division web site at: http://www.co.somerset.nj.us/planweb/wastewater/index.htm.
	May 7, 2012 Public Notice Regarding Site Specific Water Quality Plan Amendments Public Notice (pdf)
	April 26, 2012 County Wastewater Management Plan Status Report View Status Report (pdf)
	April 16, 2012 Proposed Amendment to the Tri-County Water Quality Management (WQM) Plans In accordance with the Statewide Water Quality Management Planning rules (N.J.A.C. 7:15-3.4), a public notice for a Proposed Amendment to the Tri-County Water Quality Management (WQM) Plan was published in the New Jersey Register and Courier-Post on April 16, 2012.  This amendment proposal would provide for a Future Wastewater Service Area for Camden County.  This amendment proposal submitted by Camden County is in accordance with P.L.2011, c.203 (enacted on January 17, 2012), which permits a Wastewater Management Planning Agency to prepare and submit to the Department at least that portion of a wastewater management plan designating sewer service area, which shall comply with the Department’s regulatory criteria. Public Notice (pdf) Draft Map (pdf)
	April 16, 2012 Proposed Amendment to the Upper Delaware and Upper Raritan Water Quality Management (WQM) Plans In accordance with the Statewide Water Quality Management Planning rules (N.J.A.C. 7:15-3.4), a public notice for a Proposed Amendment to the Upper Delaware and Upper Raritan Water Quality Management (WQM) Plans was published in the New Jersey Register and The Star Ledger on April 16, 2012.  This amendment proposal, submitted by the Township of Washington, Morris County, would provide for a Washington Township (Morris) Municipal Wastewater Management Plan (WMP).   Public Notice (pdf) Draft Plan including map (pdf)
	January 2012 P.L.2011, c.203 was enacted on January 17, 2012, which permits a Wastewater Management Planning Agency to prepare and submit to the Department at least that portion of a wastewater management plan designating sewer service area, which shall comply with the Department’s regulatory criteria. Link to Law (pdf)

For 2011 public meeting maps and older documents, please visit our archive page.