In May, 2016, the NJDEP proposed to amend the septic density provision of the Highlands Preservation Area Rules. The current rule stipulates that to construct a single family home on a septic system requires a minimum of 88 acres on a forested lot. This is the amount of land needed for precipitation to safely dilute a septic system’s effluent to a level that water quality is not degraded.
DEP is proposing to reduce the minimum acreage to 23 acres, an almost 400% decrease.