Specifies minimum 20-year planning duration for NJ Statewide Water Supply Plan and adds new requirements for plan.

This bill (S 987) requires New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to plan for at least 20 years when updating the Statewide Water Supply Plan, replacing the vague current requirement. It adds specific mandates, including 20-year projections of water demand and availability based on population data, 40-year assessments of climate impacts (like sea level rise), and plans to address water deficits and improve efficiency. The DEP must also prioritize protecting sensitive areas like the Pinelands and Highlands Region. Critically, the bill prohibits the DEP from using funds from the Water Supply Bond Act of 1981 until the updated plan is adopted, starting October 5, 2022.