Bureau Chief: Diane Zalaskus
401 East State Street
P.O. Box 426
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0426

Telephone: (609) 292-2957
Fax: (609) 633-1495

The Bureau of Water Allocation, operating as an arm of the Division of Water Supply, is responsible for ensuring that surface and ground water diversions do not exceed the sustainable yield of available water resources and do not adversely impact existing users of that resource. The Bureau also overseas regional water supply planning initiatives and assists with drought administration.

The Bureau of Water Allocation:

• Issues Water Allocation Permits and Temporary Dewatering Allocation Permits
• Issues Water Use Registrations
• Issues Agricultural, Aquacultural and Horticultural Water Use Certifications
• Regulates activities through Short Term Permit-by-Rule and Dewatering Permits-by-Rule
• Designates, implements and manages Water Supply Critical Areas
• Reviews contracts for the routine sale and purchase of water for use in the public water supply
• Conducts regional water supply planning activities
• Performs regional water supply feasibility studies
• Monitors drought conditions and assists with administration of drought orders
• Coordinates statewide and interstate water supply issues
• Assesses permit compliance and initiates enforcement actions
• Educates and informs the public and regulated community
• Compiles reports on the status of the major reservoir levels
• Calculates excess diversion fees
• Generates billings for permit application fees and annual fees

The Bureau’s four sections are:

• Permit Administration and Coordination
• Southern Water Allocation Permitting
• Northern Water Allocation Permitting
• Regional Water Supply Planning

Implementing regulations are:

	N.J.A.C. 7:19-1 et seq: Water Supply Allocation Rules (Pdf Format)
	N.J.A.C. 7:20 A-1 et seq: Agricultural, Aquacultural, or Horticultural Water Usage Certification Rules (Pdf Format)
	N.J.A.C. 7:38 Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act Rules (Pdf Format)