Section 58:12A-12.11 - Minimum detectable disinfectant residuals, public water systems; developing, publishing best management practicesa. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, or rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto, to the contrary, the owner or operator of a public community water system, which has more than 100 service connections and which is served fully or partially by surface water or groundwater under the influence of surface water or any other public water system as determined by the Department of Environmental Protection for the protection of public health, shall maintain:(1) for systems utilizing chlorine as a disinfectant, a minimum detectable disinfectant residual of at least 0.3 milligrams per liter of free chlorine in all active parts of the public community water system at all times; and(2) for systems utilizing chloramine as a disinfectant, a minimum detectable disinfectant residual of at least 1.0 milligrams per liter of monochloramine in all active parts of the public community water system at all times.b. The Department of Environmental Protection shall, within 12 months after the effective date of P.L.2024, c.66 (C.58:12A-12.10 et al.), develop and publish on its Internet website best management practices for public community water systems to discourage the growth and potential distribution of pathogens such as Legionella bacteria. The best management practices shall include, but not be limited to, information regarding: (1) identification of areas of aging infrastructure, dead ends, or components prone to biofilm accumulation;(2) types of disruptions in the water distribution system; (3) flushing details and schedule; (4) disinfectant residual maintenance;(5) storage tank maintenance;(6) identification of areas of low water use, stagnation, or low pressure; (7) monitoring and testing; (8) water age management; and (9) other measures the Department of Environmental Protection deems necessary for the optimization of water systems.c. No later than six months after the promulgation of rules regulations by the Department of Environmental Protection pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2024, c.66 (C.58:12A-12.13), each public community water system that is subject to the provisions of subsection a. of this section shall develop and implement a distribution system maintenance plan to comply with the provisions of 1 through 4 of P.L.2024, c.66 (C.58:12A-12.10 through 58:12A-12.13), in accordance with the best management practices developed pursuant to subsection b. of this section and any applicable rules and regulations adopted by the department. The public community water system shall annually submit to the department a statement certifying that the public community water system has developed and implemented a distribution system maintenance plan pursuant to the provisions of this section. Added by L. 2024 , c. 66, s. 2, eff. 9/12/2024.