Official Site of The State of New Jersey

The Water Quality Management Planning Rules (N.J.A.C. 7:15) adopted by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) require that all areas of New Jersey be addressed by Wastewater Management Plans (WMPs).

WMPs provide a step-wise approach to determining the existing and potential capacity for service provision within the Highlands Region, identification of appropriate and inappropriate areas for the provision of utility services, and how capacity will be allocated among Existing Areas Served and proposed areas for new services both adjacent to and distinct from Existing Areas Served. Provisions are made for incorporation of resource constraints and the protection of sensitive environmental features.

Proposed service areas, including Existing Areas Served, must be defined and regulated to ensure that sensitive environmental resources are protected from development that relies on wastewater service. Contiguous areas of sensitive environmental resources using the thresholds for Land Use Capability Zone designation under the Highlands Regional Master Plan (RMP)  must be excluded from the service areas unless proof is provided through the RMP Update process that the basis for the resource mapping is incorrect. Stringent limitations exist on utility service areas in the Preservation Area, regardless of Land Use Capability Zone, including the NJDEP Preservation Area rules at N.J.A.C. 7:38-2.6 regarding the revocation of sewer service areas. These requirements are not applicable to exempt activities, and the requirements may be modified through a Highlands Preservation Area Approval (HPAA) with a waiver in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:38.

Areas identified as non-sewer service areas, which are served by individual subsurface sewage disposal systems (ISSDS), have been evaluated in accordance with the standards established at N.J.A.C. 7:38-3.4(b) or as identified in the RMP Land Use Capability Zones (LUCZs), as applicable, based on the type of Highlands Area, to determine the potential number of equivalent dwelling units which could occur within the Highlands Region. In addition to this build-out analysis, the number of equivalent dwelling units which could occur in areas identified as non-sewer service areas was evaluated in accordance with applicable exemptions designated in the Preservation Area under the Highlands Act and N.J.A.C 7:38-2.3a (exemptions 1 and 2). Also, underdeveloped parcels in the Planning Area would not be evaluated against the septic standards set by the RMP if the development proposes fewer than three (3) residential units.

Once the WMP is drafted that conforms to both the RMP and N.J.A.C. 7:15, it is sent to the NJDEP for final review, public comment, and adoption.