58:25-26. Monitoring of water quality

4. a. A municipality, upon completion of the map required pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1988, c.90 (C.58:25-25), shall provide for the monitoring of the water quality at the outfall lines for any stormwater sewers discharging into salt waters in the following manner:

(1) For priority outfall lines, monitoring shall be conducted twice each year; and

(2) For those outfall lines other than priority outfall lines, monitoring shall be conducted annually.

b. The water tests shall monitor for the presence of fecal coliform or other contaminants that may result from a sewer line break or an improper or illegal connection to a stormwater sewer line. If fecal coliform or other contaminants are found to exceed the standards therefor established pursuant to P.L.1977, c.74 (C.58:10A-1 et seq.), the municipality shall identify the person responsible for, and promptly abate or seek the abatement of, the contamination. The results of any water test which monitors for the presence of fecal coliform or other contaminants shall be reported to the Department of Environmental Protection in such manner as shall be required by the department.

c. "Priority outfall line" shall be defined by the Department of Environmental Protection pursuant to regulations adopted by the department.

d. Beginning February 1, 1995, and annually thereafter, the department, pursuant to the regulations developed to define a "priority outfall" pursuant to subsection c. of this section, shall submit a report to the Legislature that lists the priority outfalls. This list shall include the municipality in which the outfall is located, the location of the outfall and the waterbody into which the outfall discharges.

L. 1988, c.90, s.4; amended L.1995,c.259,s.33.