Water Allocation
DIVISION: Division of Water Supply
GENERAL PHONE NUMBER: (609) 292-2957
FAX NUMBER: (609) 633-1495
WEB SITE
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
The Bureau of Water Allocation is responsible for ensuring the protection of surface water and ground water and associated ecosystems. The bureau works with water supply providers that often times include Municipal Utility Authorities run by local governments.
The Regional Water Supply Planning Section is responsible for conducting regional alternative water supply investigations that are recommended by the Statewide Water Supply Plan. These investigations consist of 50-year water demand projections, quantification of water supply problems such as saltwater intrusion and streamflow depletion through ground and surface water modeling, and assessment and selection of alternative water supplies and/or water resource management strategies to mitigate these problems. The section is currently conducting alternative water supply investigations in the Passaic-Hackensack watersheds, Southeastern New Jersey watersheds, and Cape May County.
Finally, this section participates in the reassessment of Critical Water Supply Areas 1 and 2, areas of water supply concern. These are areas where excessive water use poses significant threat to the long-term integrity of the water supply sources.
Critical Water Supply Area 1, declared in 1985, includes portions of Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean Counties. Critical Water Supply Area 2, declared in 1994, includes portions of Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Atlantic, Cumberland, Salem, Monmouth and Ocean Counties. The department can not issue approvals for any new or increased diversions from a critical area affected aquifer, unless it involves approval of a base allocation transfer or if the diversion is used for a certain exceptions.
The bureau is responsible for the review of applications for water diversions in excess of 100,000 gallons of water per day, as regulated under the Water Supply Management Act. Diversions in excess of 50,000 gallons of water per day located within the Highlands Preservation Area are regulated as part of the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act. The bureau regulates all ground and surface water diversions throughout the state including water diversions for public water supply, industrial processing and cooling, irrigation, sand and gravel operations, remediation, power generation, and agricultural use. The regulation could take the form of a permit, certification, registration, or permit-by-rule.
MONETARY ASSISTANCE PROVIDED:
None
PERMITTING RESPONSIBILITIES:
A Water Allocation Permit is required for the withdrawal of ground and/or surface water in excess of 100,000* gallons of water per day for a period of more than 30 days in a consecutive 365 day period, for purposes other than agriculture, aquaculture or horticulture.
For dewatering in excess of 100,000 gallons of water per day, the project owner must obtain a Temporary Dewatering Allocation Permit, Dewatering Permit-by-Rule or Short Term Permit-by-Rule depending on the duration of construction and the method employed.
A Short Term Permit-by-Rule must be filed for diversions in excess of 100,000 gallons of water per day that occur over a period of 30 days or less in a calendar year.
A Water Use Registration is required for any person with the capability to divert in excess of 100,000* gallons of water per day, but who withdraws less than this quantity.
An Agricultural Water Usage Certification or Agricultural Water Use Registration must be obtained from the county agricultural agent if a person has the capability to withdraw ground and/or surface water in excess of 100,000 gallons per day for agricultural, aquacultural or horticultural purposes.
*For diversions within the Highlands Preservation Area, the threshold is 50,000 gallons of water per day. Refer to the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act for additional information. Diversions within the Delaware River Basin may need approval from the Delaware River Basin Commission.
PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE:
The Division of Water Supply web site offers a variety of useful information for those applying for a Water Allocation permit, certification or registration.
Guidance documents include:
Technical-Hydrological Report Checklist
BWA-001A New-Mod Groundwater Application Checklist
BWA-001A New-Mod Surface Water Application Checklist
BWA-001B Renewal Application Checklist
BWA-002 Dewatering Checklist
Maps - Are You In the Highlands?
BWA-001 & BWA-002 - Administrative Completeness Checklist
Water Use Registration Metering Form
AGC001 & AGC002 RCE Irrigation Logbook
Highlands Water Allocation Application - New or Major Modifications Checklist for Administrative and Technical Completeness
I-Map NJ DEP - Finding Sources and Coordinates
Water Allocation Applications include:
Water Allocation Permit Application for New or Major Modifications BWA-001A
Water Allocation Permit Application for Renewals BWA-001B
Water Allocation Permit Application Checklist for Administrative Completeness
Temporary Dewatering Application BWA-002
Short Term Water Use Permit-By-Rule BWA-003
Short Term Water Use Report BWA-004
Dewatering Permit-By-Rule BWA-005
Contract Approval Application BWA-006
C.E.R.C.L.A. Permit Equivalency Application BWA-010
Agricultural Water Usage Certification Application AGC-001
Agricultural Water Use Registration AGR-002
Water Use Registration Application DWR-188
Highlands Water Allocation Application - New or Major Modifications BWA-001HL
Highlands Water Use Registration Application
Water Conservation Forms include:
Golf Courses/Irrigation
Large Volume Users
Public Water Supply Systems
Laws and Regulations include:
Payments to State or Waters Diverted
Water Supply Management Act
Water Supply Bond Act of 1981
Agricultural, Aquacultural and Horticultural Water Usage Certification Rules
New Jersey Water Supply Allocation Rules - effective September 19, 2005
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