13. a. The department shall prepare and adopt the New Jersey Statewide Water Supply Plan, which plan shall be revised and updated at least once every five years.

b. The plan shall include, but need not be limited to, the following:

(1) An identification of existing Statewide and regional ground and surface water supply sources, both interstate and intrastate, and the current usage thereof;

(2) Projections of Statewide and regional water supply demands for the duration of the plan;

(3) Recommendations for improvements to existing State water supply facilities, the construction of additional State water supply facilities, and for the interconnection or consolidation of existing water supply systems, both interstate and intrastate;

(4) Recommendations for the diversion or use of fresh surface or ground waters and saline surface or ground waters for aquaculture purposes;

(5) Recommendations for legislative and administrative actions to provide for the maintenance and protection of watershed areas;

(6) Identification of lands purchased by the State for water supply facilities that currently are not actively used for water supply purposes, including, but not limited to, the Six Mile Run Reservoir Site, with recommendations as to the future use of these lands for water supply purposes within or outside of the planning horizon for the plan; and

(7) Recommendations for administrative actions to ensure the protection of ground and surface water quality and water supply sources.

c. Prior to adopting the plan, including any revisions and updates thereto, the department shall:

(1) Prepare and make available to all interested persons a copy of the proposed plan or proposed revisions and updates to the current plan;

(2) Conduct public meetings in the several geographic areas of the State on the proposed plan or proposed revisions and updates to the current plan; and

(3) Consider the comments made at these meetings, make any revisions to the proposed plan or proposed revisions and updates to the current plan as it deems necessary, and adopt the plan.

d. Prior to the adoption of any revision to the New Jersey Statewide Water Supply Plan pursuant to this section, the department shall consult with the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council, established pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2004, c.120 (C. 13:20-4), concerning the possible effects and impact of the plan upon the Highlands regional master plan, adopted pursuant to section 8 of P.L.2004, c.120 (C. 13:20-8), and the water and other natural resources of the Highlands Region, as defined in section 3 of P.L.2004, c.120 (C. 13:20-3).

L.1981,c.262,s.13; amended 1997, c.236, s.32; 2003, c.251, s.2; 2004, c.120, s.73; 2005, c.285, s.1.