Bill Text: NJ A1045 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires water purveyors to notify municipalities they service regarding water supply and water quality issues.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-09 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Environment, Natural Resources, and Solid Waste Committee [A1045 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-A1045-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman PAUL KANITRA
District 10 (Monmouth and Ocean)
Assemblyman GREGORY P. MCGUCKIN
District 10 (Monmouth and Ocean)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman N.Munoz
SYNOPSIS
Requires water purveyors to notify municipalities they service regarding water supply and water quality issues.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning water allocation permits and amending and supplementing P.L.1981, c.262.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 3 of P.L.1981, c.262 (C.58:1A-3) is amended to read as follows:
3. As used in the provisions of P.L.1981, c.262 (C.58:1A-1 et [seq.] al.), P.L.1993, c.202 (C.58:1A-7.3 et al.) and P.L.2003, c.251 (C.58:1A-13.1 et al.):
"Aquaculture" means the propagation, rearing and subsequent harvesting of aquatic organisms in controlled or selected environments, and the subsequent processing, packaging and marketing, and shall include, but need not be limited to, activities to intervene in the rearing process to increase production such as stocking, feeding, transplanting, and providing for protection from predators. "Aquaculture" shall not include the construction of facilities and appurtenant structures that might otherwise be regulated pursuant to any State or federal law or regulation.
"Aquatic organism" means and includes, but need not be limited to, finfish, mollusks, crustaceans, and aquatic plants which are the property of a person engaged in aquaculture.
[a.] "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of [the Department of] Environmental Protection or the commissioner's designated representative [;] .
[b.] "Consumptive use" means any use of water diverted from surface or ground waters other than a nonconsumptive use as defined in this section [;] .
[c.] "Department" means the Department of Environmental Protection [;] .
[d.] "Diversion" means the taking or impoundment of water from a river, stream, lake, pond, aquifer, well, other underground source, or other water body, whether or not the water is returned thereto, consumed, made to flow into another stream or basin, or discharged elsewhere[;] .
[e.] "Nonconsumptive use" means the use of water diverted from surface or ground waters in such a manner that it is returned to the surface or ground water at or near the point from which it was taken without substantial diminution in quantity or substantial impairment of quality [;] .
[f.] "Person" means any individual, corporation, company, partnership, firm, association, owner or operator of a [water supply facility] public water system, political subdivision of the State and any state, or interstate agency or Federal agency [;] .
"Public community water system" means a public water system which serves at least 15 service connections used by year-round residents or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents.
"Public water system" means a system for the provision to the public of water for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances, if such system has at least 15 service connections or regularly serves an average of at least 25 individuals daily at least 60 days out of the year. "Public water system" includes: (1) any collection, treatment, storage and distribution facilities under control of the operator of such system and used primarily in connection with such system; and (2) any collection or pre‑treatment storage facilities not under such control which are used primarily in connection with such system.
[g. "Waters" or "waters of the State" means all surface waters and ground waters in the State;
h.] "Safe or dependable yield" or "safe yield" means that maintainable yield of water from a surface or ground water source or sources which is available continuously during projected future conditions, including a repetition of the most severe drought of record, without creating undesirable effects, as determined by the department [;] .
[i. "Aquaculture" means the propagation, rearing and subsequent harvesting of aquatic species in controlled or selected environments, and the subsequent processing, packaging and marketing, and shall include, but need not be limited to, activities to intervene in the rearing process to increase production such as stocking, feeding, transplanting, and providing for protection from predators. "Aquaculture" shall not include the construction of facilities and appurtenant structures that might otherwise be regulated pursuant to any State or federal law or regulation;
j. "Aquatic organism" means and includes, but need not be limited to, finfish, mollusks, crustaceans, and aquatic plants which are the property of a person engaged in aquaculture;
k.] "Six Mile Run Reservoir Site" means the land acquired by the State for development of the Six Mile Run Reservoir in Franklin Township, Somerset County, as identified by the Eastern Raritan Feasibility Study and the New Jersey Statewide Water Supply Plan prepared and adopted by the department pursuant to section 13 of P.L.1981, c.262 (C.58:1A-13).
"Water purveyor" means any person that owns or operates a public water system.
"Waters" or "waters of the State" means all surface waters and ground waters in the State.
(cf: P.L.2003, c.251, s.1)
2. Section 9 of P.L.1981, c.262 (C.58:1A-9) is amended to read as follows:
9. The Board of [Regulatory Commissioners] Public Utilities shall fix just and reasonable rates for any public water [supply] system subject to its jurisdiction, as may be necessary for that system to comply with an order issued by the department or the terms and conditions of a permit issued pursuant to P.L.1981, c.262 (C.58:1A-1 et al.) or P.L.1993, c.202 (C.58:1A-7.3 et al.).
(cf: P.L.1993, c.202, s.8)
3. Section 14 of P.L.1981, c.262 (C.58:1A-14) is amended to read as follows:
14. a. [When] Whenever the department determines that the developed water supply available to a water purveyor is inadequate to service its users with an adequate supply of water under a variety of conditions, the department may order the water purveyor to develop or acquire, within a reasonable period of time, additional water supplies sufficient to provide that service.
b. The Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs shall, when reviewing the annual budget of any municipality, county, or agency thereof which operates a public water [supply] system, certify that an amount sufficient to cover the cost of any order issued to the [municipality, county or agency thereof] water purveyor pursuant to subsection a. of this section is included in that annual budget.
(cf: P.L.1981, c.262, s.14)
4. Section 15 of P.L.1981, c.262 (C.58:1A-15) is amended to read as follows:
15. The department may:
a. Perform any and all acts and issue such orders as are necessary to carry out the purposes and requirements of P.L.1981, c.262 (C.58:1A-1 et al.) or P.L.1993, c.202 (C.58:1A-7.3 et al.);
b. Administer and enforce the provisions of P.L.1981, c.262 (C.58:1A-1 et al.) or P.L.1993, c.202 (C.58:1A-7.3 et al.) and rules, regulations and orders adopted, issued or effective thereunder;
c. Present proper identification and then enter upon any land or water for the purpose of making any investigation, examination or survey contemplated by P.L.1981, c.262 (C.58:1A-1 et al.) or P.L.1993, c.202 (C.58:1A-7.3 et al.);
d. [Subpena] Subpoena and require the attendance of witnesses and the production by them of books and papers pertinent to the investigations and inquiries the department is authorized to make under P.L.1981, c.262 (C.58:1A-1 et al.) or P.L.1993, c.202 (C.58:1A-7.3 et al.), and examine them and those public records as shall be required in relation thereto;
e. Order the interconnection of public water [supply] systems, whether in public or private ownership, whenever the department determines that the public interest requires that this interconnection be made, and require the furnishing of water by means of that public water system to another public water system, but no order shall be issued before comments have been solicited at a public hearing, notice of which has been published at least 30 days before the hearing, in one newspaper circulating generally in the area served by each involved public water [supply] system, called for the purpose of soliciting comments on the proposed action.
f. Order any person diverting water to improve or repair its water supply facilities so that water loss is eliminated so far as practicable, safe yield is maintained and the drinking water quality standards adopted pursuant to the "Safe Drinking Water Act," P.L.1977, c.224 (C.58:12A-1 et al.) are met;
g. Enter into agreements, contracts, or cooperative arrangements under such terms and conditions as the department deems appropriate with other states, other State agencies, federal agencies, municipalities, counties, educational institutions, [investor-owned water companies, municipal utilities authorities,] water purveyors , or other organizations or persons;
h. Receive financial and technical assistance from the federal government and other public or private agencies;
i. Participate in related programs of the federal government, other states, interstate agencies, or other public or private agencies or organizations;
j. Establish adequate fiscal controls and accounting procedures to assure proper disbursement of and accounting for funds appropriated or otherwise provided for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of P.L.1981, c.262 (C.58:1A-1 et al.) or P.L.1993, c.202 (C.58:1A-7.3 et al.);
k. Delegate those responsibilities and duties to personnel of the department as deemed appropriate for the purpose of administering the requirements of P.L.1981, c.262 (C.58:1A-1 et al.) or P.L.1993, c.202 (C.58:1A-7.3 et al.);
l. Combine permits issued pursuant to P.L.1981, c.262 (C.58:1A-1 et al.) or P.L.1993, c.202 (C.58:1A-7.3 et al.) with permits issued pursuant to any other act whatsoever whenever that action would improve the administration of those acts;
m. Evaluate and determine the adequacy of ground and surface water supplies and develop methods to protect aquifer recharge areas.
(cf: P.L.1993, c.202, s.9)
5. (New section) The department shall require every water purveyor that owns or operates a public community water system to submit quarterly and annual reports to the governing body of each municipality within its service area to ensure that these governing bodies are provided with adequate and accurate reports regarding the adequacy and water quality of the developed water supply available for its users. The reports shall be prepared in a format prescribed by the department by rule or regulation.
a. Every water purveyor shall file quarterly reports with the municipalities it services regarding permitted water allocations. These reports shall include the following information:
(1) The term of the allocation permit; (2) The maximum allowable diversion, expressed in terms of a daily, monthly, or annual diversion;
(3) The permitted allocation and the specific water sources utilized therefor;
(4) Whether the water purveyor has exceeded the permitted allocation during any particular time period; and
(5) Whether the water purveyor is seeking an increase in its water allocation due to planned development projects, and updates of the status of any such projects or applications before the department.
The reports shall include an annual assessment by the water purveyor, based on service area planning, regarding the timeframe for the anticipated utilization of the entire water allotment in the allocation permit and the need for acquiring an additional water allotment by contract or application to the department therefor.
b. Whenever a water purveyor exceeds the permitted allocation during any particular time period as determined by the department by rule or regulation, the water purveyor shall publish a notice of this water usage in at least one newspaper circulating generally in the area served by the water purveyor, which shall also include an explanation of conservation methods necessary to ensure the continued viability of the public water system and anticipated alternatives for the permittee to acquire an additional water allotment by contract or application to the department therefor.
c. Every water purveyor shall file quarterly compliance sampling reports with the municipalities serviced by the water purveyor regarding water quality. The compliance sampling reports shall contain the sampling results for inorganic compounds, volatile organic compounds, synthetic organic compounds, and radionuclides analyses, which shall be prepared in a format prescribed by and on forms available from the department.
d. The department shall
adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968,
c.410 (C.52:14B‑1 et seq.), rules and regulations as the department deems
appropriate to effectuate the purposes of this section. The rules and
regulations shall specify the responsibilities of water purveyors, whether
public or private, with respect to the reporting and notification requirements
of this section.
6. (New section) Any water purveyor who knowingly:
a. makes any false or misleading statement on any report or notice required to be submitted pursuant to section 5 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill); or
b. fails to submit any report or publish a notice required pursuant to section 5 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree and, notwithstanding the provisions of N.J.S.2C:43-3, shall be subject to a fine of not more than $50,000 for the first offense and not more than $100,000 for the second and each subsequent offense.
7. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires every water purveyor to file quarterly and annual reports with the municipalities they service regarding the adequacy and water quality of the water furnished to its users.
Specifically, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) would require every water purveyor that owns or operates a public community water system to submit quarterly and annual reports to the governing body of each municipality within its service area to ensure that these governing bodies are provided with adequate and accurate reports regarding the developed water supply available for local water users. These quarterly reports are to include the following information:
(1) the term of the allocation permit;
(2) the maximum allowable diversion, expressed in terms of a daily, monthly or annual diversion;
(3) the permitted allocation and the specific water sources utilized therefor;
(4) whether the water purveyor has exceeded the permitted allocation during any particular time period; and
(5) whether the water purveyor is seeking an increase in the water allocation due to planned development projects, and updates of the status of any such projects or applications before the DEP.
The reports would also include an annual assessment by the water purveyor, based on service area planning, regarding the timeframe for the anticipated utilization of the entire water allotment in the allocation permit and the need for acquiring an additional water allotment by contract or application to the DEP therefor.
Whenever a water purveyor exceeds its permitted allocation, the bill requires the water purveyor to publish a notice of this water usage in at least one newspaper circulating within the affected service area, including an explanation of conservation methods necessary to ensure the continued viability of the public water system and anticipated alternatives for the water purveyor to acquire an additional water allotment by contract or application to the department therefor.
The bill also requires every water purveyor to file quarterly sampling reports with the municipalities they service regarding the water quality of the developed water supply available for its users. The compliance sampling reports are required to contain the sampling results for inorganic compounds, volatile organic compounds, synthetic organic compounds, and radionuclides, and be prepared in a format prescribed by and on forms available from the DEP.
The bill directs the DEP to adopt rules and regulations to implement the requirements imposed by the bill. These rules and regulations are to specify the responsibilities of water purveyors, whether public or private, with respect to the reporting and notification requirements of the bill.
In addition, the bill imposes penalties on water purveyors for violations of the provisions of the bill. A water purveyor who knowingly (1) makes any false or misleading statement on any report or notice required to be submitted under the bill, or (2) fails to submit any report or publish a notice required under the bill, would, upon conviction, be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree and would be subject to a fine of not more than $50,000 for the first offense and not more than $100,000 for the second and each subsequent offense.
Lastly, the bill updates the definition section of the law and makes other technical amendments to the "Water Supply Management Act."
