New Jersey could become the first state east of the Rockies to run out of water

[no_hypocrisy]

River pumping proposal sparks North Jersey water war

war has erupted among North Jersey’s water suppliers amid the clashing realities of rising demand and chronically depleted reservoirs.

It pits the local industry giant against smaller providers, as well as sewage authorities and environmentalists, and raises crucial questions about how much water gets pumped out of the region’s rivers — and who gets to take it.

The North Jersey District Water Supply Commission, an independent state authority, wants to draw more water out of tributaries of the Passaic River. The commission has asked to pump another 17 million gallons a day from the Ramapo and Pompton rivers during droughts to replenish its Wanaque Reservoir, which provides water to more than 3.5 million people.


-snip-

But the proposal has triggered a controversy more typical of California or the arid Southwest, one that critics say could have serious consequences. They argue the plan would harm water quality, threaten fish and force dozens of sewage treatment plants to make costly upgrades to remove more pollutants from the wastewater they discharge into the rivers.

http://www.northjersey.com/news/bergen/052712_Pumping_proposal_sparks_North_Jersey_water_war.html?c=y&page=1

[sarcasmo]

1. We know Chris Christie didn't drink it all.

[FarCenter]

2. Run out? No. Fight over it? Yes.

There are a variety of public and private water systems in NJ. The private ones are run for profit; the public ones are run for patronage and graft.