New Jersey § 58:22-2

§ 58:22-2.

The Legislature hereby finds and determines that-- (a) Adequate supplies of wholesome water are essential to the health, welfare, commerce

and prosperity of the people of the State. Such supplies will be best developed by long-range plans, to be put into effect

in stages during a period of years. The formulation and execution of such plans cannot safely be allowed to wait until

the shortage of water in the State becomes critical in all parts of the State. (b) The needs of the State's growing population and expanding industrial development

require the establishment of new and additional water supply facilities; the planning

for and, subject to specific authorization by law, the acquisition of sites for the

establishment of future water supply facilities; and a continuing program of studies

and investigations to determine the resources and potentials for development of the

ground waters of the State. (c) There is an immediate need for a new major supply of water to meet the present

acute water requirements in the northeastern metropolitan counties and in the Raritan

Valley, areas which directly and indirectly affect the commerce and prosperity of

the entire State. (d) The existing water sources in the Hackensack, Passaic, Rockaway, Wanaque and Pequannock

rivers have been and are now being developed to the reasonable limit of the capacity

of these rivers by municipalities and water companies in the northeastern region of

New Jersey. Well supplies in this region have also approached their limit of practicable development. (e) Delaware Valley water supplies can ultimately be made available for New Jersey's

long-range needs. Such supplies are dependent on a comprehensive survey now being conducted by the

United States Army Corps of Engineers, on a United States Supreme Court decision to

establish the rights of the several States involved and on joint legislation of and

co-operation between New Jersey and neighboring States. (f) The Raritan river basin is the only area where large quantities of additional

water can be obtained immediately and economically to serve the northeastern metropolitan

counties as well as the counties in the Raritan Valley. This basin is about equal in size to the Passaic river basin, is wholly within the

State, is reasonably close to the counties needing water and is virtually undeveloped

for water supply. (g) The establishment of an on-river reservoir at Spruce Run will provide additional

water supply from the Raritan river basin, provide a source of water to fill the reservoir

at Round Valley, and provide increased and sustained minimum flows in the south branch

downstream thereof and in the Raritan river. The combined development of an off-river reservoir in the Round Valley area now

under acquisition by the State for reservoir purposes with the smaller and cheaper

on-river reservoir at Spruce Run will provide water supply storage for delivery of

water in pipelines at the user's expense to areas within and without the Raritan river

basin for areas desiring that type of supply as well as stream flow regulation for

multiple use to serve areas, both within and without the basin, which prefer to obtain

their supply at less initial cost from stream channels nearer to the area of demand. Water from the reservoirs will also be available for local use. The increased and sustained minimum flows will improve the quality of the water

in the river, will tend to reduce the salinity in the tidal reaches, and will improve

the upper river and its tributaries for recreational purposes. Water for filling the reservoirs will not interfere with the higher sustained low

flow specified by law and will not in any event adversely or otherwise affect the

storage of water impounded in upstream lakes. (h) The provisions proposed for the development of water storage facilities on the

Raritan river basin are also applicable, with minor modifications, to the conservation

and development of the ground-water resources of the South Jersey Coastal Plain and

elsewhere in favorable areas throughout the State to provide storage and tide dam

facilities to create artificial recharge of ground-water aquifers in areas of heavy

pumpage and to protect such areas from surface pollution and salt water intrusion. They also provide a basis for State participation in the long-range, authorization

plan now under study by the United States Army Corps of Engineers for the development

of the water resources of the interstate Delaware river basin. (i) It is therefore in the interest of the health, safety and prosperity of the people

of the State as a whole, that immediate legislative action be taken towards making

provision for storage facilities to augment natural water resources to make available

an adequate supply of water for the most critical need and in addition provide for

a long-range program for development, as shall be required, of the remaining water

resources of the State.