New Jersey Drinking Water Quality Institute (DWQI)

Minutes are posted after approval at the subsequent meeting and include links to any presentations made during that meeting.

Drinking Water Quality Institute Full Committee Meetings (direct links to presentations are below each date)
December 10, 2025 Treatment SC Comment Response to Cyanotoxins July 2, 2024 Treatment SC Draft Recommendations	May 5, 2023 Cyanotoxins Treatment Update	February 22 2023 Cyanotoxins Health Effects Cyanotoxins Testing
September 8, 2022 Round Robin Update	October 28, 2015 1,2,3-TCP Health Effects Draft 1,2,3-TCP Testing Draft	October 21, 2008
December 8, 2021 Cyanotoxin Treatment Cyanotoxin Health Effects Cyanotoxin Testing	September 30, 2015 Agenda Slides UCMR3 Update 1,2,3-TCP Health Effects 1,2,3-TCP Testing	July 14, 2008
August 5, 2021 1,4-dioxane Treatment	June 4, 2015 PFNA General Comment Response PFNA Health Effects Comment Response PFNA Testing Comment Response PFNA Treatment Comment Response	September 14, 2007
December 3, 2020	April 8, 2015 PFNA Health Effects Draft PFNA Testing Draft PFC Treatment Draft	June 8, 2007
September 30, 2020 1,4-dioxane Health Effects 1,4-dioxane Testing 1,4-dioxane Treatment	April 29, 2014 DEP/DWQI PFC Work	March 2, 2007
December 19, 2018 1,4-dioxane Groundwater Criteria 1,4-dioxane Groundwater PQL	September 10, 2010	December 1, 2006
May 25, 2018 PFOS Health Comment Response PFOS Testing Comment Response PFOS Treatment Comment Response	May 7, 2010	March 31, 2006
November 28, 2017 PFOS Health Effects Draft PFOS Testing Draft PFOS Treatment Draft	February 1, 2010	December 16, 2005
March 27, 2017 Meeting Overview UCMR3 Presentation Regulatory Update	October 30, 2009	July 29, 2005
February 16, 2017 PFOA Health Comment Response PFOA Testing Comment Response PFOA Treatment Comment Response	March 4, 2009	May 13, 2005
September 22, 2016 Agenda Slides PFOA Health Effects Draft PFOA Testing Draft PFOA Treatment Draft	January 27, 2009	March 11, 2005
June 30, 2016 Agenda Slides 1,2,3-TCP Update

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Health Effects Subcommittee
October 27, 2009	February 27, 2008	April 24, 2006
March 30, 2009	November 13, 2007	February 1, 2006
December 17, 2008	August 6, 2007	April 12, 2005
September 29, 2008	September 12, 2006

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Testing Subcommittee
February 24, 2010	June 21, 2007	September 13, 2006
October 14, 2009	December 12, 2007	May 2, 2006
January 14, 2009	February 15, 2007	January 24, 2006
April 17, 2008	November 28, 2006	April 19, 2005

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Treatment Subcommittee
January 15, 2010	January 9, 2007	March 29, 2006
June 8, 2007	August 9, 2006	January 5, 2009

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Radon Ad-Hoc Subcommittee
December 14, 2007	January 26, 2007	August 15, 2006
September 7, 2007	November 13, 2006

Membership

The DWQI has 15 members – six members serve ex officio and nine members are appointed, three each by the Governor, the Senate President, and the Speaker of the Assembly. Appointed members are from the academic scientific community, members public with background in environmental health and from regulated public water supply systems. The Chairman is designated by the Governor.

Current Membership List

Subcommittees

Current subcommittee membership list

The following subcommittees were established to address the main considerations for development of an MCLs:

The Health Effects Subcommittee is responsible for recommending health-based levels for the contaminants listed in the Act and for developing an additional list of contaminants based on occurrence in NJ drinking waters. The statutory goals for these are:

• For carcinogenic contaminants –  establish a standard which would not, within the limits of medical, scientific and technological feasibility, permit cancer in more than one in one million persons ingesting the contaminant over a lifetime.

• For noncarcinogens –  establish a standard, which would not result in any adverse physiological effects following ingestion within the limits of practicability and feasibility.

The Testing Subcommittee is responsible for developing appropriate analytical methods to measure levels as close to the health-based levels as possible and for developing appropriate monitoring frequencies.

The Treatment Subcommittee is responsible for evaluating best available treatment technologies for removal of the hazardous contaminants from drinking water, as well as overall program review.

A Radon Ad-Hoc Subcommittee was formed to evaluate the risks, costs, and benefits associated with regulating radon in drinking water based on occurrence data within the State.

Institute members, including subcommittee chairs may be contacted at DWQI@dep.nj.gov.  Please be sure to identify the subcommittee or subcommittee chair that is the intended recipient. If you are requesting an opportunity to present information to a subcommittee please also include a paragraph describing the presentation topic.

Reports on Contaminants

• 2025 PFAS Information
  • Letter from Commissioner LaTourette to DWQI Regarding USEPA PFAS MCLs, May, 2025
•  Cyanotoxins
  • Information on NJDEP Cyanotoxin Reference Doses and Drinking Water Guidance Reviewed by DWQI Health Effect Subcommittee, September 2022
  • Memorandum of Health Effects Subcommittee Review of NJDEP Reference Doses and Drinking Water Guidance, October 2022
• 2022 EPA PFAS Health Advisories Information
  • Letter from Commissioner LaTourette to DWQI Regarding USEPA PFAS Health Advisories, June 2022
  • Memorandum of Health Effects Subcommittee review of Interim USEPA Health Advisories for PFOA and PFOS, December 2022
  • Review of Interim USEPA Health Advisories for PFOA and PFOS and other Relevant Information Report, December 2022
  • Review of Interim USEPA Health Advisories for PFOA and PFOS and other Relevant Information Presentation, February 2023

Recommendations for Maximum Contaminant Levels

• 1,4-Dioxane, September 2021
  • Appendix A – Health Based Maximum Contaminant Level Support Document 1-4,Dioxane
  • Appendix B– Report on the Development of a Practical Quantitation Level for 1,4-Dioxane in Drinking Water
  • Appendix C– Recommendation on 1,4-Dioxane Treatment Options for Drinking Water
• Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS), June 2018
  • Appendix A – Health-Based Maximum Contaminant Level Support Document” Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS)
  • Appendix B – Report on the Development of a Practical Quantitation Level for Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (PFOS) in Drinking Water
  • Appendix C – Second Addendum to Appendix C: Recommendation on Perfluorinated Compound Treatment Options for Drinking Water
  • Appendix D – Responses to Comments on DWQI Health Effects Subcommittee Report: “Public Review Draft-Health-Based Maximum Contaminant Level Support Document: Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS)”
• Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA), March 2017
  • Appendix A – Health-Based Maximum Contaminant Level Support Document” Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA)
  • Appendix B – Report on the Development of a Practical Quantitation Level for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) in Drinking Water
  • Appendix C – Addendum to Appendix C: Recommendation on Perfluorinated Compound Treatment Options for Drinking Water
  • Appendix D – Responses to Comments on DWQI Health Effects Subcommittee Report: “Public Review Draft-Health-Based Maximum Contaminant Level Support Document: Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA)”
• 1,2,3-Trichloropropane, October 2016
  • Appendix A – Addendum to Health-based Maximum Contaminant Level Support Document for 1,2,3-Trichloropropane (DWQI, 2009)
  • Appendix B – Report on the Development of a Practical Quantitation Limit (PQL) 1,2,3-Trichloropropane
  • Appendix C– Supplement to the Treatment Subcommittee MCL Support Document for 1,2,3-Trichloropropane
  • Revised PQL Letter– From the Chair of the Testing Subcommittee recommending revision of the MCL to the Chair of the DWQI (DWQI, 2018)
  • Letter of Concurrence– From the Chair of the DWQI recommending revision of the MCL to the Commissioner (DWQI, 2018)
• Perfluorononanoic Acid (PFNA), July 2015
  • Appendix A – Health-Based Maximum Contaminant Level Support Document: Perfluorononanoic Acid (PFNA)
  • Appendix B – Report on the development of a Practical Quantitation Level for Perfluorononanoic Acid (PFNA)
  • Appendix C – Recommendation on Perfluorinated Compound Treatment Options for Drinking Water
• Hazardous Contaminants, March 2009
  • After the DWQI submitted this report to the Commissioner of the NJDEP, the DWQI was informed of new USEPA information on analytical method 515.3 that requires re-evaluation of the use of this analytical method for the analysis of DCPA (Dacthal) anddegradates. The recommended MCL for DCPA (Dacthal) and degradates is on hold until the DWQI’s TestingSubcommittee and Health Effects Subcommittee complete their re-evaluations.
    • Drinking Water Quality Institute’s Recommendation (Pdf Format)
    • Appendix A. Health Effects Subcommittee Report (Pdf Format)
    • Appendix B. Testing Subcommittee PQL Review, Assessment and Recommendations (Pdf Format)
    • Appendix C. Evaluation & Assessment of Removal Technology for Specific Organic Contaminants in NJ Drinking Water (Pdf Format)

• Radon-222, February 2009
• Perchlorate, October 2005
• Arsenic, March 2003
• Radium, May 2002
• Hazardous Contaminants, September 1994
  • Health-Based Maximum Contaminant Level Support Documents
    • Support documents include:
      • Recommendation for Health Based-MCL for Chlorobenzene
      • Addendum to Dichlorobenzene Support Document
      • Addendum to cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene Health-Based MCL Support Document
      • Review of Proposed MCLG for cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene and trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene
      • Basis for Proposed Revision of Formaldehyde Health-Based MCL
      • Addendum to Xylene Health-Based MCL Support Document
      • 1,1-Dichloroethane Health-Based MCL Support Document
      • Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) Health-Based MCL Support Document
      • Addendum to Naphthalene Health Based MCL Support Document
      • Naphthalene Health-Based MCL Support Document
      • 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane Health-Based MCL Support Document
      • 1,1,2-Trichloroethane Health-Based MCL Support Document
      • 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol Health-Based MCL Support Document
• Hazardous Contaminants, March 1987
  • Health-Based Maximum Contaminant Level Support Documents
    • Appendix B – Section A – Benzene
    • Appendix B – Section B – Carbon Tetrachloride
    • Appendix B – Section C – Chlordane
    • Appendix B – Section D – Chlorobenzene
    • Appendix B – Section E – Dichlorobenzenes
    • Appendix B – Section F – 1,2-Dichloroethane
    • Appendix B – Section G – Dichloroethylenes (1,1-Dichloroethylene, cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene, trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene)
    • Appendix B – Section H – Ethylene Glycol
    • Appendix B – Section I – Formaldehyde
    • Appendix B – Section J – n-Hexane
    • Appendix B – Section K – Kerosene
    • Appendix B – Section L – Methyl Ethyl Ketone
    • Appendix B – Section M – Methylene Chloride
    • Appendix B – Section N – Polychlorinated Biphenyls
    • Appendix B – Section O – Tetrachloroethylene
    • Appendix B – Section P – 1,2,4 -Trichlorobenzene
    • Appendix B – Section Q- 1,1,1 – Trichloroethane
    • Appendix B – Section R – Trichloroethylene
    • Appendix B – Section S – Vinyl Chloride
    • Appendix B – Section T – Xylene

Public Comments

Active Comment Periods

Request for public input on Cyanotoxin Reports

• Draft Report on the Development of a Practical Quantitation Level for Microcystin in Drinking Water
• Draft Recommendation on Cyanotoxin Treatment Options in Drinking Water

Public Participation in MCL Development Process flow chart

Recent Comment Periods
Information regarding previous comment periods and submitted comments are available upon request to dwqi@dep.nj.gov.

Request for Public Comment on Subcommittee Reports Regarding 1,4-Dioxane

• Draft Health-Based Maximum Contaminant Level Support Document: 1,4-Dioxane
• Draft Report on the Development of a Practical Quantitation Level for 1,4-Dioxane in Drinking Water
• Draft Recommendation on 1,4-Dioxane Treatment Options for Drinking Water

Request for Public Comment on Subcommittee Reports Regarding Perfluoroctane Sulfonate (PFOS)

• Draft Health-Based Maximum Contaminant level Support Document: PFOS

Comments Received

• Comment 1A (Delaware Riverkeeper Network)
• Comment 1B (Delaware Riverkeeper Network)
• Comment 2A (Delaware Riverkeeper Network)
• Comment 2B (Delaware Riverkeeper Network)
• Comment 3A (Chemistry Council of NJ)
• Comment 3B (Chemistry Council of NJ)
• Comment 3C (Chemistry Council of NJ)
• Comment 3D (Chemistry Council of NJ)
• Comment 4A (Delaware Riverkeeper Network)
• Comment 4B (Delaware Riverkeeper Network)
• Comment 5 (Alan Ducatman, MD)
• Comment 6 (Philippe Grandjean, MD, DMSC, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health)
• Comment 7 (American Chemistry Council)
• Comment 8 (Environmental Working Group)
• Comment 9 (Ridgewood Water Department)

 

Request for Public Comment on Subcommittee Reports Regarding Perfluoroctooctanoic Acid (PFOA)

• Health-Based Maximum Contaminant Level Support Document: Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA)
• Report on the Development of a Practical Quantitation Level for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) in Drinking Water
• Addendum to Appendix C: Recommendation on Perfluorinated Compound Treatment Options for Drinking Water

Comments Received

Comment 1 Comment 2 Comment 3 – Health Effects Comment 3 – Testing

Comment 3 – Treatment Comment 4 Comment 5

Comment 6 Comment 7 Comment 8

Comment 9 – 1 Comment 9 – 2 Comment 10

 

Request for Public Comment on Subcommittee Reports Regarding 1,2,3-Trichloropropane

• Addendum to Health-based MCL Support Document for 1,2,3-Trichloropropane (2009)
• Report on the Development of a Practical Quantitation Limit (PQL) 1,2,3-Trichloropropane
• Supplement to the Treatment Subcommittee MCL Support Document for 1,2,3-Trichloropropane: Evaluation and Assessment of Removal Technology for Specific Organic Contaminants in NJ Drinking Water (2009)

 

• Comments Received
  Comment 1 and Addendum

 

• Request for Technical Information – 1,2,3,- Trichloropropane
  The DWQI is requesting new technical information.  Click on the link above for details.

Other Links

NJ Safe Drinking Water Act rules 
NJ Safe Drinking Water Act

Contact Us

For any inquires related to Drinking Water Quality Institute matters, please contact the Department at 606-292-5550 or by email at DWQI@dep.nj.gov.