Emergency Response, Preparedness, and Resiliency

 

If experiencing an Emergency, please call: 

Phone icon with 24/7 as textCall the DEP Hotline
1-877-WARN-DEP

1-877-927-6337

 

Any non-compliance with permit limitations, anticipated or unanticipated bypass, or violation as outlined in N.J.A.C. 7:14A-6.10, must be reported to the DEP Hotline at 1-877-WARN DEP (1-877-927-6337) within 2 hours of the event or knowledge of the event, or 24 hours depending on the nature of the violation (see N.J.A.C. 7:14A-6.10). The Department strongly suggests that any facility which is experiencing non-compliance or anticipating such non-compliance to contact downstream drinking water purveyors and their local department of health. If you are a wastewater treatment plant, water treatment plant, and/or pump station owner who has lost electrical power and are running on auxiliary (usually generator) power for electrical needs or any other type of emergency that impacts the proper operation of the treatment plant, the Department urges you to call the DEP Hotline.

Water Compliance & Enforcement Region Contacts

For more information visit: NJDEP-Compliance and Enforcement – Water Compliance & Enforcement

Northern Field Office (Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, and Warren Counties)
7 Ridgedale Avenue
Cedar Knolls, NJ 07927
Phone: 973-656-4099 Fax: 973-656-4400

Central Field Office (Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Union Counties)
Mail Code 44-03
401 East State Street
PO Box 420
Trenton, NJ 08625-0420
Phone: 609-292-3010 Fax: 609-292-6450

Southern Field Office (Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem Counties)
2 Riverside Drive, Suite 201
Camden, NJ 08103
Phone: 856-614-3655 Fax: 856-614-3608

Depending on the severity of the event please be aware that the Department may contact you to review any impacts to your system. Please be prepared to respond to the questions in the Facility Status Report Form for Wastewater Systems .

In the event of an emergency, please take the following precautions:



		

	


Wastewater and Stormwater Systems

	

		

			
Please ensure your auxiliary power generators and other related preparations (fuel) are sufficient and in good working order. Monitor all critical wastewater system components (including collection, pump stations, and sludge management) for signs of trouble or storm damage. In addition, consider flood protection measures such as sand-bagging at pump stations and treatment buildings that may be subject to flooding.


Precautionary measures for wastewater and stormwater systems for before, during, and after a major weather event.


		

	


Combined Sewer Outfalls (CSO)

	

		

			
Any entities that own and maintain Combined Sewer Outfalls are also advised to ensure that catch basins as well as solids and floatables control units are cleared.


		

	


Significant Indirect Users (SIU)

	

		

			
The Department provides an interactive sewage sludge management tool that provides the ability to physically locate New Jersey’s sewage sludge management systems.  The interactive map allows users to explore each systems capabilities, acceptance criteria and contact information.


Precautionary measures for significant indirect users (SIU) for before, during, and after a major weather event .


		

	




Office of Emergency Management (OEM)

	

		

			
For local emergency incidents, water systems are encouraged to establish and strengthen mutual aid agreements with your neighboring systems or systems of similar size to support potential resource needs.   For large scale events, the local, county, State OEM structure is the established pathway for resource needs.  The OEM process allows for water and wastewater system requests for resources to be elevated from local level to the State OEM.  This process is well supported. Any resource needs outside of State availability can be elevated by the State OEM to the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC is the nation’s state to state mutual aid system) and/or the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as needed. It is important that you familiarize yourself with the local and county OEM coordinators and understand their expectations and procedures for processing your resource needs.


A listing of OEM county coordinators is available at: https://ready.nj.gov/about-us/county-coordinators.shtml.


Emergency Public Service Announcements


A list of radio stations that broadcast public service announcements is available at: https://nj.gov/njoem/plan-prepare/radio-station-updates.shtml.


Note: Also check your local telephone directory for emergency management information.


		

	




Guidance and Forms

	

		

			
Any non-compliance with permit limitations, anticipated or unanticipated bypass, or violation as outlined in N.J.A.C. 7:14A-6.10 must be reported to the DEP Hotline at 1-877-WARN DEP (1-877-927-6337) within 2 hours of the event or knowledge of the event, or 24 hours depending upon the nature of the violation. The Department also urges any facility experiencing non-compliance or anticipating such non-compliance to contact downstream water purveyors, their local department of health, and their Water Compliance and Enforcement inspector.


Guidance



Incidental Forms



		

	





	

		

			
Emergency Contact Management System


In an effort to mitigate challenges and inefficiencies during emergencies (e.g. natural disasters), the NJDEP’s Division of Water Supply and Geoscience and the Division of Water Quality have developed the Emergency Contact Management System (ECMS).  Through this system, entities regulated by the water supply and NJPDES programs are able to verify and update 3 different types of emergency contacts for their facility (i.e. primary, secondary, and security); ensuring that the Department has the most up-to-date contact information in the event of an emergency.  On a semi-annual basis, regulated entities will be reminded, via email, to re-verify and/or update the emergency contacts for their facility.


		

	


Add/Update Contacts

	

		

			
ECMS User Resources



For technical support regarding the ECMS system, please complete the Help Request Form.


		

	




2018 Regional Resiliency Assessment Program - Water Sector Resiliency Workshop
On January 18, 2018 the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection co-hosted a workshop on resources available to water and wastewater facilities in New Jersey.


Many State and federal agencies such as the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security & Preparedness, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency, shared information on funding opportunities and resources available to build resiliency and preparedness capabilities in water and wastewater systems.


Below are the presentations from the workshop which have been compiled for your reference.


    

  • 

    Agenda 
    

    • 

  • 

    Environmental Infrastructure Trust and State Wide Assistance Infrastructure Loan (SAIL) Program 
    

    Speaker: David Zimmer, NJEIT
    
Description: EIT is an Independent State Financing Authority responsible for providing and administering low interest rate loans to qualified municipalities, counties, regional authorities, and water purveyors in New Jersey for the purpose of financing water quality infrastructure projects that enhance ground and surface water resources, ensure the safety of drinking water supplies, protect the public health and make possible responsible and sustainable economic development. SAIL is a disaster relief program to provide short-term, low-interest bridge loans that enable projects to move forward in advance of disaster relief assistance from the federal government.
    • 

  • 

    Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF)
    

    Speaker: Gene Chebra, NJDEP
    
Description: Provides loans to finance a wide variety of projects that help to protect, maintain, and improve water quality in New Jersey. The loans are generally awarded to municipalities, counties, and utility authorities.
    • 

  • 

    FEMA Mitigation
    

    Speaker: Bill McDonnell, FEMA (for Michael Moriarty)
    
Description: FEMA assistance programs (e.g., Public Assistance Grants, Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, Flood Mitigation Assistance Program, Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program, and Preparedness Grants) and lessons learned from Sandy.
    • 

  • 

    Resource Needs – State Preparedness and Response Process
    
Speaker: Mario Sinatra, NJOEM  
    

    Description: Promote the understanding of the OEM process for resource procurement.
    

    Speaker: Jim Orgill, NJOHSP
    
Description: Overview of critical infrastructure protection initiatives.
    

    • 

  • 

    Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission: Resiliency Program 
    

    Speaker: John Rotolo/Chris O’Shea, Passaic Valley Sewage Commission
    
Description: Lessons Learned.
    • 

  • 

    USEPA Water Infrastructure and Resiliency Finance Center 
    

    Speaker: Kristyn Abhold, EPA Water Security Division Resources
    
Description: The Water Infrastructure and Resiliency Finance Center is an information and assistance center, helping communities make informed decisions for drinking water, wastewater, and storm water infrastructure to protect human health and the environment.
    • 

  • 

    USEPA Water Security Division Resources 
    

    Speaker: Jeff Fencil, EPA Water Security Division Resources
    
Description: Provide overview of capabilities and resources available from EPA WSD for water and wastewater security and resilience.
    • 

  • 

    Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool (CREAT) 
    

    Speaker: Curt Baranowski, EPA CREAT
    
Description: CREAT is a risk assessment application, which helps utilities in adapting to extreme weather events through a better understanding of current and future climate conditions.
    • 

  • 

    South Monmouth Regional Sewerage Authority – CREAT 
    

    Speaker: Michael Rupple, South Monmouth Regional SA
    
Description: Lessons Learned.
    • 

  • 

    Camden County MUA – CREAT 
    

    Speaker: Andy Kricun, Camden County MUA
    
Description: Lessons Learned.
    

     
    •