The Division of Water Quality is undertaking an effort to identify, reduce and eliminate sources of PFAS in industrial wastewater.  As part of the effort to identify PFAS at the source, the Division began their strategy by focusing on the direct industrial dischargers to surface water (Category B permits) and industrial dischargers to a POTW (Category L permits), along with working with Delegated Local Agencies to begin identifying, reducing and eliminating sources of PFAS discharged into their systems. The Division created and issued a survey to permittees to gather information regarding potential sources of PFAS and operational processes. The Division also issued a Request for Information to gather wastewater sampling data from the surveyed permittees. This data will aid the Division in understanding the scope of PFAS in wastewater discharges.

On January 17, 2023, the Commissioner signed Administrative Order 2023-01  to encourage the collection of data that will aid in efforts to identify, reduce and eliminate sources of PFAS in wastewater and its residuals.

Category B Permits are issued to facilities that discharge industrial wastewater directly to a surface water body. This wastewater is generated in a number of ways including, but not limited to, process water or cooling water. Permittees are required to treat the wastewater before discharge to ensure compliance with their NJPDES permit conditions such as effluent limitations.

Category L Permits are issued to facilities that discharge industrial wastewater to a POTW. These permittees are known as Significant Indirect Users (SIUs). SIUs do not directly discharge to a surface water body; however, the POTW treats the incoming wastewater and then discharges to a surface water body.

POTWs are permitted under NJPDES DSW Category A Permits. Seventeen (17) of these POTWs are also known as Delegated Local Agencies (DLAs). A DLA is a POTW with an approved pretreatment program from the Department. The Department delegates permitting authority to the DLAs, who in turn permit their own users.

Questions regarding PFAS in surface water can be directed to dwq_bswp@njdepwptest.net.

Questions regarding PFAS in the Pretreatment Program can be directed to dwq_pretreatment@njdepwptest.net.