The Division of Water Quality is working to promote and implement the beneficial reuse of wastewater mainly from domestic wastewater dischargers via the NJPDES permitting program. The beneficial reuse of wastewater involves taking what was once considered waste, giving it specialized treatment, if necessary, and using it for public and/or restricted access uses. This high quality reclaimed water can be used for non-potable applications in place of potable water or as a supplement to potable water. Reclaimed water for beneficial reuse 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 reclaimed water for beneficial reuse protects public health and environmental quality.

The Bureau of Surface Water and Pretreatment Permitting automatically renews NJPDES/DSW Category A (Sanitary) permits that allow permittees to implement, upon approval, a RWBR program for a variety of public and restricted access uses. These permittees file an annual report detailing specific activities that were performed and the amount RWBR that was utilized. This reported data is then compiled and summarized every calendar year and is made available on the Department’s website.

Read the Technical Manual for Reclaimed Water for Beneficial Reuse.

For information on reuse tax benefits or potential funding for reuse projects, visit our page on Treatment Works.

Approved RWBR Projects

The annual Reuse Report data relates relevant details regarding the amount of water reused per facility for various types of reuse.