How’s the (Future) Water?

Cape May County’s drinking-water supply is in good shape overall, thanks to a supply drawn largely from deep, clean aquifers, enforcement of state monitoring and allocation processes, and “robust conservation programs,” according to industry officials.  
However, state water representatives don’t take the supply for granted. 
Saltwater has intruded the water supply in several parts of the county. Cape May operates a “successful” reverse osmosis treatment plant able to scale from 600,000-2.2 million gallons a day to accommodate the seasonal draw. It supplies potable (drinkable) water to Cape May, Cape May Point, the Coast Guard Training Center, West Cape May and a small portion of Lower Township. 
In Del Haven and surrounding sections of Middle Township, saltwater intrusion threatens residential wells. As a result, properties will be required to connect to Lower Township Municipal Utility Authority’s lines for water in about two years when the system should be complete.
The $10 million project includes extending water mains from Villas to the project area and tying into the Wildwood water utility to ensure enough water supplies. 
Planning for the Future
Jennifer Myers, section chief for the state Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) water allocation permitting section, said purveyors meet every other year with county officials to discuss developmental concerns and potential impacts to the water supply.  
Another state group plans for future population growth, looking 20-40 years out. That plan is updated every five years.
The U.S. Geological Survey Team has measured and mapped water levels in the coastal plain-confined aquifers every five years for the DEP since the 1980s. The 2013 report should “be out soon.” 
“We are really trying to focus on resiliency and interconnecting systems for the future,” added Terry Pilawski, bureau chief of DEP’s water allocation and well-permitting. “Post-Superstorm Sandy, we saw the effects to piping and electrical systems, for example. By interconnecting systems, we can be better resilient to weather and storms.” 
Impacts to the Aquifers
According to Jeff Hoffman, state geologist, the aquifers underlying the county, permeable rock that contains or transmits water, are impacted by different factors. The one closest to the surface is recharged by rainwater. The deeper ones called the Cohansey Watertable Aquifer System and the Atlantic City 800-foot Sand, are confined, not recharged by rainwater and are seeing signs of saltwater intrusion. 
Also, a state-enforced water allocation process impacts any draw over 70 gallons a minute (gpm), whereby an applicant needs to prove the need for the water, along with the fact that it won’t create a hardship on the supply system.
The 70 gpm range would include users/uses such as schools, smaller commercial and industrial facilities, very small golf courses, mobile home communities and small farms.  
“We don’t take the Cape May County water supply for granted,” Hoffman said. “The big issue is the supply is all groundwater. The county doesn’t have a surface water supply. There are about 165-170 municipal supply wells drawing water. There are about 21,500 domestic wells, mainly in the northern part of the county, drawing water. Saltwater is intruding on the supply, but we are addressing it.” 
Domestic Well Requirements
Saltwater intrusion threatens the bayfront community of Del Haven, although residents in some of the nearly 1,000 homes impacted continue to use their wells for bathing and other needs but drink bottled water. 
A private, domestic well uses on average 85 gallons per person per day, with a fair amount of variability depending on home size, irrigated areas, and other factors, according to state officials. 
The process for obtaining a domestic well permit starts at the state level, according to Linda Wilde, environmental services director for the county Department of Health. “They are the determining entity on where, how many, etc.  
“When a permit from the state is obtained, the well driller submits it to our department for our local permit,” she added. “After the well is dug, the well driller submits the well record to the state and gives us a copy. 
“The water has to be tested by a certified laboratory for potability. If the standards are not met, a treatment system has to be installed. When the water meets all standards, our certificate of compliance can be issued,” she continued. 
Water Use Decreases
Myers noted water use has decreased over the past 10 years due to significant rainfall, which reduces the need for watering lawns, gardens and other things.  
Pilawski said hotels, motels, restaurants and other tourist-based businesses have instituted “robust water conservation programs, such as not washing towels as often or only serving water at restaurants if requested.” 
“The water levels in the county are not declining because the county is pretty much built-out,” Hoffman said. “Population numbers have not really changed over the last few years. There may be minor changes to the demand, which is 6 to 7 billion gallons a year, due to how much rain we get, but the water levels are remaining constant. Water demand is driven by growth, and that’s been pretty steady.” 
Tourism Drives Demand
While the overall population remains steady, seasonal tourists can drive up the need for water, as explained by Cape May Water/Sewer Department Superintendent Carl Behrens. The plant fluctuates from 600,000 gallons a day to more than 2 million gallons a day. 
During the summer of 2018, Behrens said there were three days when the plant treated and produced a record 2.8 million gallons a day. Over July 3-4, 2019, 2.6 million gallons a day were treated. Because of all the automation within the system, there are “unnoticeable” differences in characteristics such as water pressure despite the increases in demand. 
Cape May “has successfully operated” its reverse osmosis treatment plant to remove saltwater since 1998, after saltwater was detected and pumping from the Cohansey aquifer exceeded natural recharge rates as growth occurred, according to the water/sewer superintendent.  
“Reverse osmosis is an integral part of our water supply plan and will be well into the future,” Behrens said. “It’s a proven technology. I think the water supply in the city and county are in pretty good shape.” 
Citizens Own Water
“The DEP monitors the area within the aquifers, monitors the amount of water recharging the aquifers, monitors the allocation of permits,” noted Behrens. “Based on historical trends, they can increase or decrease the number and amounts on permits.” 
“The citizens of Cape May County own the water,” stressed Hoffman. “Our jobs are to ensure there is enough to allocate and prevent any adverse impacts.” 
Safe Drinking Water Acts Set Limits
The federal and state Safe Drinking Water Acts identify and set limits on contaminant levels in drinking water to ensure that drinking water is safe for human consumption, according to Matthew Wilson, environmental specialist for the DEP’s Bureau of Safe Drinking Water.  
“The acts also regulate how often public water systems must monitor their drinking water for contaminants and how often they must report the monitoring results,” he said.
He explained that generally, the larger the population served by a public water system, the more frequent monitoring and reporting must occur.  
Schools, private businesses and campgrounds with their water supply also are required to monitor and report findings to the state regularly. 
“The acts include requirements for notifications that must be made to the public when a violation occurs, and the notification must include a clear and understandable explanation of the nature of the violation, the potential adverse health effects, and what the public water system is doing to correct the violation,” Wilson said.  
He noted there are “very few” violations for “natural causes” in the water; most are for incorrect reporting methods or samples. 
Monitoring schedules, sample results and any violations that a water system has incurred are available via an application called Drinking Water Watch (DWW), which can be accessed at http://bit.ly/2Y19SeM. If the water system has returned to compliance, that information is also displayed.
To contact Karen Knight, email kknight@cmcherald.com.