Located under Environmental Regulation in the Department
of Environmental Protection, the Division of Water Quality has primary
responsibility for protecting New Jersey's surface and ground waters from
pollution caused by improperly treated wastewater and its residuals.
Wastewater is essentially "used" water. In the home, it comes
from various sources including sinks, dishwashers, bathtubs, toilets and
washing machines. Wastewater is also generated by commercial and industrial
users where human waste may be mixed with a wide variety of wastes emanating
from cleaning, processing, or manufacturing operations. When wastewater
is improperly discharged into a surface waterbody it can deplete oxygen,
stimulate undesirable growths of plants (algae), and introduce disease producing
organisms and toxic chemicals into the environment.
To protect the state's waters, the Division of Water Quality:
- implements the New Jersey Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NJPDES Program),
- administers financial assistance programs for wastewater
treatment facilities, and
- administers the Treatment Works Approval, Capacity Assurance, and Sewer Ban
Programs.
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To see and example of how the individual functions of each division program apply to regulating and funding a wastewater treatment system discharging into a surface waterbody, click 