Green Jersey

Highlands study: Build-out could deplete water supply

A new analysis by the Highlands Council confirms that the Highlands region couldn’t handle the water and sewage demands projected if towns developed to the max, as allowed under existing zoning.

But the study also found that if towns build out as allowed under the draft regional master plan set to be adopted next month, some of them will still face water and sewer capacity shortages. From the Bergen Record:

Even if all 88 towns in the state’s premier water-generating region decide to conform to the draft regional master plan, there would still be a shortage of water and sewerage capacity in some communities, a new build-out analysis found.

If planning-area towns were to develop with no restraints, the study found, 34 water supply areas in the region would not have enough water for a full build-out.

If all of the towns accept the regional restrictions, only two areas would be short of water, but sewerage capacity would be exceeded by 11 percent.

…The regional plan proposes that municipalities create water conservation plans or buy water from another source if they want to have more growth.

According to the study, if all the towns involved sign on to the draft plan, the amount of allowable new construction would be cut by about 75 percent across the region.

In Morris County, 70 percent fewer new homes would be permissible under the plan, and 80 percent less business/commercial square footage (via the Daily Record).