Responding to consumer complaints involving improper well construction and well pump installation issues, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has announced it is increasing enforcement efforts.

In an advisory issued today, the Department said it found the violations to be of great concern because they threaten “the quality of our aquifers and the safety of our water supplies.”

DEP says the problems include wells and pumps installed by non-licensed or improperly licensed individuals, improper or faulty well construction and well pump installations, failure to obtain required permits, improper decommissioning of wells, and failure to timely submit well records and decommissioning reports.

What is DEP doing about it?

The Department’s Water Compliance and Enforcement Program will be providing enforcement support to the Division of Water Supply’s Well Permitting and Regulation Section, which is primarily responsible for inspection of the well sites.

This support will include the issuance of formal enforcement actions with penalty assessments (which can be up to $5,000 per day per violation), and the suspension or revocation of licenses.

Read the entire DEP enforcement advisory here.

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