Impact of wastewater reuse in Burlington County, New Jersey on adjacent wetlands

Burlington County has been engaged in land use planning through a number of programs. The County is taking bold measures for environmental protection through open space acquisition and preservation, farmland preservation, watershed management initiatives, and smart growth planning. The County is also involved in water supply management via a proposed Credit Bank. This credit allows a limited supply from the Potomac-Raritan-Magothy (PRM) aquifer to the various users in the County. Saltwater intrusion problems in the PRM aquifer have led the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to mandate this area as a Critical Water Area and limit water withdrawals. The County thus needs to address future water demands and investigate alternate sources of water. One such potential source is the beneficial reuse of reclaimed wastewater. The importance of reclaimed water for beneficial reuse (RWBR) became significant during the drought of 1999 in New Jersey. During the drought period many wastewater treatment plants received authorization to reuse their treated effluent for various beneficial reuse applications. Several facilities have now built in effluent reuse as part of their NJPDES permit. Reclaimed wastewater is being considered now as a valuable resource by municipalities, industries, County parks, and recreational and residential developments. Currently, the feasibility of wastewater reuse in Burlington County is being investigated with special focus on the impact to adjacent wetlands. Samples have been collected from golf course impoundments that are currently receiving reclaimed wastewater for turf grass irrigation. Samples were analyzed for nitrogen, phosphorus, and fecal and total coliform bacteria. Results to date indicate that significant amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and fecal coliforms are not being introduced to the impoundments by the treated effluent discharged into the golf course retention ponds. Nitrate, total phosphorus, and fecal coliform concentrations detected above those introduced by the treated effluent indicate that there are other sources of contribution at the monitored sites.