The Delaware River Basin Compact provides that no project having a substantial effect on the water resources of the basin shall be undertaken unless it shall have been first submitted to and approved by the commission (Compact, §3.8). In accordance with Section 3.8 of the Compact, the commission is required to approve a project whenever it finds and determines that the project would not substantially impair or conflict with the Comprehensive Plan. The commission provides by regulation for the procedure of submission, review, and consideration of projects and for its determinations pursuant to Section 3.8.

DRBC approves docket applications (in accordance with Section 3.8 of the Delaware River Basin Compact) and permit applications (in accordance with Section 10.3 of the Compact and the commission's Southeastern Pennsylvania Ground Water Protected Area Regulations). Docket and permit applications are reviewed by the DRBC Water Resources Management and Modeling, Monitoring, and Assessment Branches.