By John F. McKeon
New Jersey is extremely fortunate to have a plentiful and reliable source of fresh water, which is a credit to the wisdom of sound public policy that has consistently supported and properly managed open space, dealt with waste water and protected our fresh water supply.
Protecting this valuable asset has allowed New Jersey to reap billions in revenue from tourism, increase property values in vacation areas and provide residents with relatively affordable drinking water in comparison to other states.
This ample supply of clean water is not only an economic driver but has a significant impact on our quality of life running the gamut from great beer to the best bread and idyllic vacation spots from our bays to our lakes. However, all of this is under a significant threat.
This great threat is from nonpoint source pollution.
Every time it rains or snows, stormwater that flows across impervious surfaces, such as roadways and parking lots, picks up fertilizer, pet waste, road salt, pesticides, chemicals, debris and bacteria. Those pollutants are then able to infiltrate our water system as the stormwater empties directly into our waterways.