State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > New-jersey > Title-58 > Section-58-22 > 58-22-2

58:22-2.  Legislative findings
    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.     L.1958, c. 34, p. 94, s. 2.
 

State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > New-jersey > Title-58 > Section-58-22 > 58-22-2

58:22-2.  Legislative findings
    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.     L.1958, c. 34, p. 94, s. 2.
 

State Codes and Statutes

State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > New-jersey > Title-58 > Section-58-22 > 58-22-2

58:22-2.  Legislative findings
    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.     L.1958, c. 34, p. 94, s. 2.