Monroe is the only town in N.J. with water system for nondrinking uses
By vincent todaro
Staff Writer
MONROE — Why waste perfectly good drinking water on your lawn?
Though it’s a simple point, only now are some states realizing the cost savings and environmental benefits of not using drinking water for irrigation purposes. And Monroe is likely the first town in New Jersey to employ a second water system in hopes of saving water and money, according to Michael Rogers, director of the Monroe Township Utilities Authority.
The township’s new, second water system uses nonpotable, less-expensive water for irrigation purposes such as watering lawns.
This amounts to having a separate distribution system for nondrinkable water, Rogers said. Nonpotable water is cheaper than water that has been treated for drinking, and the system includes separate meters so the township can tell how much nonpotable water each customer uses.
The system, officials hope, will aid in periods when water supplies are stressed.
"Water supplies in New Jersey are going to be stretched," he said. "A good supply will be harder and harder to come by."
Rogers said supply issues are related to all the development taking place and the increasing population. Another problem is that New Jersey has considered itself "water rich," though recent droughts have presented a challenge.
"New Jersey is realizing it has a long way to go as far as managing supplies," Rogers said. "The state is very concerned there will be adequate supplies for the projected increase in population."
Enter the second water system.
Rogers said Monroe is following the lead of states such as Florida and Arizona, which have introduced the same type of system. By no longer wasting drinkable water on uses in which it is not needed, the township hopes to preserve its supply of drinkable water.
Rogers said the system will also save residents money. In Monroe, water is billed on a scale. Bills are sent out quarterly, and the first 10,000 gallons of water used by any customer are charged at a lower rate than subsequent gallons. The first 10,000 gallons are generally used for purposes such as showering, drinking and cooking. The reason residents often exceed 10,000 gallons per quarter is because they are irrigating.
In fact, Rogers said even private homes can use upwards of 40,000 gallons in a quarter.
Because the second system uses water that has not been treated for drinking purposes, there is a lower cost to the utility, he said. The nonpotable water is less expensive because it comes from sources such as shallow wells, storm-water runoff, surface supply water and reclaimed water from treatment plants. Storm-water runoff would be the most common source.
"These sources do not need to be treated as much as drinking water," he said, adding that treatment costs are going up as state standards become stricter.
Drinking water needs to come from aquifers, or underground wells, whereas nonpotable water can come from above-ground sources such as tanks. Water used for fires, for example, is stored in above-ground tanks.
For the system to be used, special piping must be installed in the service area, along with connector points in front of each home. So far, only two developments in Monroe have the secondary system available — the Regency at Monroe adult community, and Woods Edge, a single-family home development.
"They’re both hooked up and running with the separate distribution system," Rogers said.
Other developments have been approved for the system, but are not using it yet, he said.
The system is mainly aimed at proposed developments and those that have separate irrigation systems in place, because retrofitting the system is very expensive, he said.
The township will ask that new development applications include the system, he said. It will be up to the developer to pay the cost of buying and installing the pipes. If there is no chance of the system working in the area proposed for development, the applicant can contribute to a fund used to expand the second irrigation system, Rogers said.
"I just think it’s a good idea whose time has come," he said. "It puts Monroe ahead of most places, and we’re really proud of that."

