Vol. 7 No. 3 Winter 1999
A Newsletter About New Jersey's Water Quality Programs

Over the past year, the Division of Water Quality has been working on rules to implement the beneficial reuse of wastewater from domestic and industrial wastewater dischargers. Reclaimed Water for Beneficial Reuse ("RWBR") involves taking what was once considered waste, giving it a high degree of treatment, and using the resulting high-quality reclaimed water for new, beneficial uses. RWBR has a myriad of application potentials including the spray irrigation of crops, parks, and golf courses; dust control; fire fighting; and toilet flushing, to list a few. The high-level of disinfection and effluent treatment required for RWBR protects public health and environmental quality.

As a result of the recent drought, several wastewater facilities have approached the division seeking approval for beneficially reusing their effluent. One such facility, the Evesham Township Municipal Utilities Authority received approval to distribute their RWBR to a nearby golf course for public access spray irrigation. They are also authorized to spray irrigate the facility site and are contemplating the irrigation of other properties such as parks and school properties. Since Evesham's effluent satisfies the high-level disinfection and treatment requirements for RWBR, any new RWBR locations they identify can easily be added to their permit upon filing a request with the division.

In an effort to promote and encourage the beneficial reuse of wastewater, the division has drafted a document entitled "Guidance Manual for Reclaimed Water for Beneficial Reuse" to assist facility operators and owners interested in pursuing the reclamation of their wastewater. The manual will be available in hard copy and from the division's web site in the near future. If you have any questions concerning RWBR, please contact Jim Grob of the Bureau of Point Source Permitting Region 2, at (609) 292-4860.