On January 31, NJDEP Commissioner Bradley Campbell announced 23 water demonstration projects in NJ that will receive a total of $35 million to reuse treated wastewater.  Projects include the Borgata/Marina Terminal (commercial irrigation and non-contact cooling water), K. Hovnanian Four Seasons (residential irrigation), and Bayway Refinery (non-contact cooling water for industrial generator cooling).  Unfortunately, many of these projects may proceed without a NJDEP Water Reuse Program or a formal regulatory framework.

While reuse of wastewater can be an opportunity to conserve potable water supplies and prevent water shortages during droughts, unregulated programs can lead to health, safety, and environmental degradation concerns.  COA has researched water reuse programs in NJ and other states and will be releasing several reports soon.