January 25, 2017

Bureau of Environmental Analysis, Restoration and Standards (BEARS)Division of Water Monitoring and Standards (DWMS)

Sandra Cohen, RS1, Rule ManagerBureau of Environmental Analysis, Restoration and Standards (BEARS)Division of Water Monitoring and Standards (DWMS)

January 25, 2017 NJDEP DWMS BEARS 2

Expectations for Today Understand the current ground water

classification system and designated uses Identify any changes needed to address current

water quality needs and goals Provide input on key issues identified by the

Department Identify any additional concerns Share additional information that should be

considered Identify next steps

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Deborah KratzerBEARS/DWMS

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Water Pollution Control ActN.J.S.A 58:10A-1

“It is the policy of this State to restore, enhance and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of its waters, to protect public health, to safeguard fish and aquatic life and scenic and ecological values, and to enhance the domestic, municipal, recreational, industrial and other uses of water.”

January 25, 2017 NJDEP DWMS BEARS 6

Current Ground Water Classifications and Designated UsesGround Water Classification Areas:

Established based on hydrogeologic characteristics of the ground water resource and the designated use(s) to be maintained, restored and enhanced within the classification area.

Current Ground Water Classifications and Designated UsesClass I: Ground Water of Special Ecological

SignificanceClass II: Ground Water for Potable Water

SupplyClass III: Ground Water for Uses Other Than

Potable Water Supply

January 25, 2017 NJDEP DWMS BEARS 7

Class I - Ground Water of Special Ecological Significance● Primary Designated Use: Maintenance of

special ecological resources● Class I-A- Exceptional Ecological Areas:

(1) Watersheds of FW1 surface waters;(2) The Natural Areas as designated by the Department pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:5A-1.13(3) Other ground waters designated as Class I-A under N.J.A.C. 7:9C

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Class I (continued)●Class I-PL—Pinelands (as designated by the

Pinelands Protection Act, N.J.S.A. 13:18A-1) Class I-PL (Pinelands Preservation Area): preserve

unique and significant ecological resources of the Pinelands through restoration, maintenance and preservation of ground water quality in its natural state (natural water quality).

Class I-PL (Pinelands Protection Area): preserve Pinelands plant and animal species and their habitats through protection and maintenance of essential characteristics of Pinelands ground water quality (background water quality).

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Class II – Ground Water for Potable Supplies● Designated Use: provision of potable

ground waters with conventional water supply treatment● Class II-A: Used as potable water supplies at

current water quality– Default classification (all areas not designated

Class I, II-B or III) – not mapped– Criteria based on risk to human health from

potable water consumptionJanuary 25, 2017 NJDEP DWMS BEARS 11

Class II – continued● Class II-B: Used as potable water supplies

subsequent to enhancement or restoration of regional water quality ● Specific areas designated through rule or

reclassification● None designated to date● Class II-B Areas must consist only of ground waters:- Extensive, historical contamination- Cannot be practicably restored with available technology - No significant risk of pollution migration into Class I or II-A

ground waters- Other (see rule)

● Criteria same as Class II-A

January 25, 2017 NJDEP DWMS BEARS 12

Class III – Ground Water for Uses Other than Potable Supplies● Designated Use: Not suitable for potable

supplies due to natural hydrogeologic characteristics or natural water quality.

● Class III-A: Aquitards

An aquitard is a hydrogeologic confining unit that exhibits limited permeability; doesn’t readily transmit to SW; may store or transmit to GW

primary use is release or transmittal to adjacent ground or surface waters

secondary uses include any reasonable usesJanuary 25, 2017 NJDEP DWMS BEARS 13

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• Map boundaries are approximations

• Subject to field verification

• Includes portions of Woodbury, Merchantville, Marshalltown, Navesink, Hornerstown, etc.− > 50 feet thick− K < 0.1 ft/day − > 100 acres

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Class III – continued Class III-B: Any reasonable use at existing

water quality, other than potable water.• natural concentrations or regional

concentrations (through the action of salt-water intrusion)

• > 3,000 mg/l Chloride or • > 5,000 mg/l Total Dissolved Solids, or • otherwise not suitable for potable uses. • parts of formations as indicated in Figures 3

through 5 in the Appendix.

• Map boundaries are approximations

• subject to field verification

• Digital-Simulation and Projection of Head Changes in the Potomac-Raritan-Magothy Aquifer System, Coastal Plain, New Jersey. By James E. Luzierhttp://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/1980/0011/

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• Figure 4 in N.J.A.C. 7:9C

• Map boundaries are approximations

• subject to field verification

• Farrington Aquifer (Source: USGS Water Resources data NJ 1980-1989)

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• Farrington Aquifer References?

Hydrogeology, simulation of regional groundwater flow, and saltwater intrusion, Potomac-Raritan-Magothy aquifer system, northern Coastal Plain of New Jersey. By Amleto A. Pucci, Jr., Daryll A. Pope, and JoAnn M. Gronberg. 1985. http://www.state.nj.us/dep/njgs/pricelst/gsreport/gsr36.pdf

Geophysical Investigation of the Potomac-Raritan-Magothy Aquifer System and Underlying Bedrock in Parts of Middlesex and Mercer Counties, New Jersey. Stewart K. Sandberg, David W. Hall, Jo Ann M. Gronberg ad David L. Pasicznyk. NJGS Geological Survey Report GSR 37. 1996. http://www.state.nj.us/dep/njgs/pricelst/gsreport/gsr37.pdf

Hydrogeology, simulation of regional groundwater flow, and saltwater intrusion, Potomac-Raritan-Magothy aquifer system, northern Coastal Plain of New Jersey. Amleto A. Pucci, Jr., Daryll A. Pope, and JoAnn M. Gronberg. 1985. http://nj.usgs.gov/special/mod_maint/info/info_southriver.html

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• Figure 5 in N.J.A.C. 7:9C

• Map boundaries are approximations

• subject to field verification

• Old Bridge Aquifer (Source: USGS Water Resources Data NJ 1980-1989)

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Exceptions to the Classification System● Department may establish a Classification Exception

Area only when constituent standards for a given classification are not being met or will not be met in a localized area due to: – natural quality; localized effects of a NJPDES discharge;

pollution caused by human activity within a contaminated site; or an ACL as approved pursuant to NJPDES.

● All designated uses in each CEA will be suspended during the life of the CEA.

● Constituent standards of the surrounding classification area shall apply at the perimeter of the CEA for the specified constituents.

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● How to implement mapping to make it a useful tool?● Currently codified in N.J.A.C. 7:9C as

Narrative Descriptions or maps Figures 1-5 ● Mapped boundaries may not be current or

accurate● All classifications require site-specific

confirmation to apply appropriate criteria

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Updating Ground Water Classification System Mapping

● Class I-A: Not mapped

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NJDEP Surface Water Quality

Standards of NJ (12- 2010)

FW-1 watersheds selected

No GIS coverage exists specifically for State-owned Natural Areas (internal Parks layer shown in pink)

Class I-PLExisting rule: Figure 1

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Existing GIS layer (Pinelands)

Pinelands Boundaries

of New Jersey

(04-24-2015)

Existing rule: FW-1 watersheds not shown

Existing GIS layer (Pinelands and FW1)

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NJDEP Surface Water Quality

Standards of NJ (12- 2010)

FW-1 watersheds

selected

Pinelands Protection Area looks the same in both

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But relatively small areas appear to be not in Kirkwood or Cohansey formations (which the narrative specifies)

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Based on: Bedrock Geology for New Jersey 1:100,000, Series DGS04-6

(05-10-2007)

● Class II-A and II-B: Not mapped

● Class II-A is default designation to support drinking water use

● No areas have been designated Class II-B

● Same criteria would apply to both Class II-A and II-B

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● Map of Class III-A (Figure 2) is an approximation of aquitards● includes portions of the saturated zones of

many formations- > 50 feet in thickness - hydraulic conductivity (K) of approximately < 0.1 ft/day and- > 100 acres- Woodbury, Merchantville, Marshalltown, Navesink,

Hornerstown Formations; aquitard formations of the Potomac-Raritan-Magothy aquifer system and the Kirkwood aquifer system; portions of the glacial moraine and glacial lake deposits, and other geologic units having the characteristics of an aquitard, excepting Class I areas.

● Additional areas as demonstrated by evidence that an area meets the narrative description

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Based on: Bedrock Geology for New Jersey 1:100,000, Series

DGS04-6 (05-10-2007)

Class III-AExisting rule: Figure 2

Existing GIS layer

Shown: Woodbury Formation, Merchantville Formation, Marshalltown Formation, Navesink Formation, Hornerstown Formation

● Class III-B: Figures 3, 4 and 5 ● Maps show approximate boundaries● Subject to field verification with site specific

data● Potomac-Raritan-Magothy Aquifer System,

Coastal Plain; Farrington Aquifer; Old Bridge Aquifer

● Formations at different depths have different characteristics

● Additional areas as demonstrated by evidence that an area meets narrative description.

● Salt water intrusion changes over timeJanuary 25, 2017 NJDEP DWMS BEARS 31

Overview (GIS):

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Based on: Bedrock Geology for New Jersey 1:100,000,

Series DGS04-6 (05-10-2007)

NJDEP Surface Water Quality Standards of NJ (12- 2010)FW-1 watersheds selected

No GIS coverage exists specifically for State-owned

Natural Areas (internal Parks layer)

Pinelands Boundaries of NJ(04-24-2015)

No (known) GIS coverage exists specifically for aquifers

with chloride or TDS

January 25, 2017 NJDEP DWMS BEARS 33

Use and Classification QuestionsDo the classification area maps accurately

depict the classification areas? Should the current maps be replaced with

digitized mapping available as GIS layer(s) (like the SWQS Stream Classifications maps)?

Should some of the maps be replaced with narrative conditions?

January 25, 2017 NJDEP DWMS BEARS 34

Use and Classification QuestionsShould the rules specify how classifications

are verified on a site-specific basis?Should some of the Classification areas be

combined or eliminated?Are there implementation issues that

should be addressed by another workgroup?

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