July 27, 2005 (rt23 news) - TRENTON -- Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell today proposed new pollution limits, targeting phosphorus that causes water quality impairment of 200 river miles within the Passaic River Basin and the Wanaque Reservoir, as well as an additional 200 river miles in 20 waterways across the state.

"Improving the water quality of our most significant and largest drinking sources is fundamental to protecting the health of New Jersey’s residents," said Acting Governor Richard J. Codey. "Safeguarding our water resources also is key to supporting New Jersey’s growing communities and economy."

"DEP is once again building on its clean water commitment and record," said Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell. "For critical drinking water sources like the Wanaque and others, we will continue to work at an accelerated pace to make up for past delays in setting tougher pollution limits."

For the Passaic River Basin, DEP has proposed total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) - or pollution limits - to address phosphorus contamination entering the Wanaque Reservoir and over 200 river miles. Affected rivers within the Passaic River Basin include Pompton River, Ramapo River, Pequannock River, Wanaque River, Upper & Middle Passaic River, Whippany River, and Rockaway River.

The proposal specifically calls for a reduction of phosphorus - from 57,574 pounds to 17,496 pounds per year - going into the Wanaque Reservoir, which lies within the Passaic River Basin. The TMDL proposal requires 42 wastewater treatment plants within the Passaic River Basin to reduce phosphorus discharges by 83 percent, and establishes an 80 percent phosphorus reduction target for nonpoint source pollution. One measure to address nonpoint source pollution is a requirement for all municipalities impacting the Wanaque Reservoir to adopt a low phosphorus fertilizer ordinance.

DEP also proposed TMDLs for 20 additional waterways encompassing 200 river miles across 10 watershed areas. These 20 TMDLs call for phosphorus reductions ranging from 21 to 92 percent (see below Phase I WLAs Table).

In developing these TMDLs, DEP identifies the maximum amount of phosphorus that a water body can contain and still meet New Jersey’s water quality standards.

DEP then allocates the targeted reduction amongst existing pollution sources to restore the waterways to the state’s "clean water" standard.

The federal Clean Water Act (CWA) established section 303(d) that requires states to prepare and submit a report that identifies waters that do not meet water quality standards. The waterbodies on the 303(d) list have impaired water quality and the state is required to develop a TMDL for each pollutant in these waterbodies by priority.

DEP published the 21 proposed TMDLs for phosphorus (listed below) in the July 5 New Jersey Register (NJR). DEP will hold hearings beginning on August 4 to accept public comments, please visit the web site for date and location for each TMDL.

See letter to dischargers [PDF 35 Kb] and phase I waste load allocation (WLA) table [PDF 85 Kb] (includes reduction amounts)

For more information about New Jersey’s watersheds visit http://www.nj.gov/dep/watershedmgt

New Jersey’s Proposed TMDLs in July 5 New Jersey Register

Waterbody	TMDL Type	City/County
Barrett Run	Phosphorus	Bridgeton
Blacks Creek	Phosphorus	Chesterfield-Georgetown Road
Black Creek	Phosphorus	Route 94/517 in Vernon
Black Creek	Phosphorus	Black Creek near Vernon
Black Creek	Phosphorus	Sand Hill Road in Vernon
Big Timber Creek	Phosphorus	Blackwood Terrace
Cohansey River	Phosphorus	Seeley
Coles Brook	Phosphorus	Hackensack
Lockatong Creek	Phosphorus	Rosemont-Raven Rock Road Bridge
Metedeconk River	Phosphorus	Jackson Mills road in Freehold
Musquapsink Brook	Phosphorus	River Vale
Oldmans Creek	Phosphorus	Porches Mill
Pascack Brook	Phosphorus	Westwood
Pompton Lake	Phosphorus	Passaic County
Ramapo River	Phosphorus	(near) Mahwah
Shark River	Phosphorus (near)	Neptune
Shark River Brook	Phosphorus	Shark River Station in Tinton Falls
Wanaque Reservoir	Phosphorus	Passaic County
Wickecheoke Creek	Phosphorus	(near) Sergentsville
Wickecheoke Creek	Phosphorus	Stockton
Waywayanda	Phosphorus	Route 515 in Maple Grange Pochuck River