A Water Allocation Permit is required for the diversion of ground and/or surface water in excess of 100,000* gallons per day (equivalent to an aggregate total of 70 gallons per minute for all sources) for a period of more than 30 days in a 365 consecutive day period, for purposes other than agriculture, aquaculture or horticulture. This includes water diversions for public water supply, industrial processing and cooling, irrigation, sand and gravel operations, remediation, power generation, and other uses.  For these use types diversion limits are set within a Water Allocation Permit or Water Use Registration.

A Water Utilization Form is required for Public Water Systems (currently those serving a population of roughly 1000 or more).  The Water Utilization Form is internet based (NJDEP Online) and is used to report monthly water transfer and system water balance data to the Division of Water Supply and Geoscience on a quarterly basis.

A Water Use Registration is required for any person with the capability to divert in excess of 100,000* gallons of water per day, but who diverts less than this quantity.

* At the 100,000 gallons per day threshold additional approvals for water diversion may be required by the Delaware River Basin Commission and the New Jersey Pinelands Commission.  Diversions within the Highlands Preservation Area have a regulatory threshold of 50,000 gallons of water per day (equivalent to an aggregate total of 35 gallons per minute for all sources). Please refer to the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act for additional information.

2025 FEE SCHEDULE (effective 1/1/2025): The new fee schedule for Water Allocation Permits and Dewatering Permits becomes effective January 1st, 2025. See the new fee schedule here .