# N.J. Stat. § 58:12A-3: Definitions > New Jersey · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T58_C12A_S12A-3 ## Section - **Citation:** N.J. Stat. § 58:12A-3 - **Heading:** Definitions - **Jurisdiction:** New Jersey - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** NJ Code / Title 58 / Chapter 12A / Section 12A-3 ## Text 3. As used in P.L.1977, c.224 (C.58:12A-1 et seq.): a. "Administrator" means the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency or his authorized representative; b. "Contaminant" means any physical, chemical, biological or radiological substance or matter in water; c. "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Environmental Protection or his designated representative; d. "County" means any county or any agency or instrumentality of one or more thereof; e. "Department" means the Department of Environmental Protection; f. "Federal act" means the Safe Drinking Water Act, P.L.93-523, 42 U.S.C. s.300 et al.; g. "Federal agency" means any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States; h. "Municipality" means any city, town, township, borough or village or any agency or instrumentality of one or more thereof; i. "National primary drinking water regulations" means primary drinking water regulations promulgated by the administrator pursuant to the federal act; j. "Person" means any individual, corporation, company, firm, association, partnership, municipality, county, State agency or federal agency; k. "Primary drinking water regulation" means a regulation which: (1) Applies at a minimum to public water systems; (2) Specifies contaminants which, in the judgment of the commissioner, may have any adverse effect on the health of persons; (3) Specifies for each such contaminant either: (a) a maximum contaminant level if, in the judgment of the commissioner, it is economically and technologically feasible to ascertain the level of such contaminant in water in public water systems, or (b) if, in the judgment of the commissioner, it is not economically or technologically feasible to ascertain the level of such contaminant, each treatment technique known to the commissioner which leads to a reduction in the level of such contaminant sufficient to satisfy the requirements of section 4 of P.L.1977, c.224 (C.58:12A-4); (4) Contains criteria and procedures to assure a supply of drinking water which dependably complies with such maximum contaminant levels, including quality control, sampling frequencies, and testing procedures to insure compliance with such levels and to insure proper operation and maintenance of the system, and requirements as to: (a) the minimum quality of water which may be taken into the system, and (b) siting for new facilities for public water systems; l. "Public water system" means a system for the provision to the public of water for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances, if such system has at least 15 service connections or regularly serves an average of at least 25 individuals daily at least 60 days out of the year. Such term includes: (1) any collection, treatment, storage and distribution facilities under control of the operator of such system and used primarily in connection with such system, and (2) any collection or pre-treatment storage facilities not under such control which are used primarily in connection with such system. "Public community water system" means a public water system which serves at least 15 service connections used by year-round residents or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents; m. "State agency" means any department, agency or instrumentality of this State or of this State and any other state or states; n. "Supplier of water" means any person who owns or operates a public water system; o. "Maximum contaminant level" means the maximum permissible level of a contaminant in water which is delivered to the free-flowing outlet of the ultimate user of a public water system or other water system to which State primary drinking water regulations apply, except in the case of turbidity, where the maximum permissible level is measured at the point of entry to the distribution system ystem; o. "Maximum contaminant level" means the maximum permissible level of a contaminant in water which is delivered to the free-flowing outlet of the ultimate user of a public water system or other water system to which State primary drinking water regulations apply, except in the case of turbidity, where the maximum permissible level is measured at the point of entry to the distribution system. Contaminants added to the water under circumstances controlled by the user, except those resulting from corrosion of piping and plumbing caused by water quality, are excluded from this definition; p. "Nonpublic water system" means a water system that is not a public water system; q. "Sanitary survey" means an on-site review of the water source, facilities, equipment, operation and maintenance of a public or nonpublic water system for the purpose of evaluating the adequacy of the source, facilities, equipment, operation and maintenance for producing and distributing safe drinking water with adequate pressure and volume; r. "Secondary drinking water regulation" means a regulation applying to one or more water systems, and which specifies the maximum contaminant levels that are required to protect the public welfare; such regulations may apply to any contaminant in drinking water: (1) which may adversely affect the taste, odor, or appearance of such water and consequently may cause a substantial number of persons served by such water systems to discontinue their use, or (2) which may otherwise adversely affect the public welfare; s. "Water system" means a system for providing potable water to any person. L.1977, c.224, s.3; amended 1983, c.443, s.13; 1999, c.176, s.5. ## Nearby sections - [N.J. Stat. § 58:12A-1 Short title](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T58_C12A_S12A-1.md) - [N.J. Stat. § 58:12A-2 Legislative findings and declarations](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T58_C12A_S12A-2.md) - [N.J. Stat. § 58:12A-3 Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T58_C12A_S12A-3.md) - [N.J. Stat. § 58:12A-4 Powers, duties of commissioner relative to drinking water regulations.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T58_C12A_S12A-4.md) - [N.J. Stat. § 58:12A-4.1 Limitation on construction of new or extension of public water systems.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T58_C12A_S12A-4.1.md) - [N.J. Stat. § 58:12A-5 Regulations; variances or exemptions; duration](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T58_C12A_S12A-5.md) - [N.J. Stat. § 58:12A-6 Knowledge of contaminant in or likely to enter water system; actions by commissioner](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T58_C12A_S12A-6.md) - [N.J. Stat. § 58:12A-7 Emergency circumstances; provision of safe drinking water](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T58_C12A_S12A-7.md) - [N.J. Stat. § 58:12A-8 Failure of public water supply system to comply with regulations or requirements; notice requirements](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T58_C12A_S12A-8.md) - [N.J. Stat. § 58:12A-8.2 Provision of boil water notices.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T58_C12A_S12A-8.2.md) - [N.J. Stat. § 58:12A-8.3 Notifying municipalities and educational institutions of violations requiring Tier 2 Public Notice.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T58_C12A_S12A-8.3.md) - [N.J. Stat. § 58:12A-9 General powers and duties of commissioner.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T58_C12A_S12A-9.md) - [N.J. Stat. § 58:12A-10 Violations; remedies.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T58_C12A_S12A-10.md) - [N.J. Stat. § 58:12A-11 Severability; liberal construction; continuation of rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to repealed statutes](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T58_C12A_S12A-11.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T58_C12A_S12A-3. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.