A Natural Resource Management Guide for the County of Morris A ...

Upper Passaic River Watershed
Primrose Brook revealed slightly elevated fecal coliform bacteria levels possibly due to septic leachate.
Jersey Brook’s slightly elevated fecal coliform bacteria levels were linked to septic leachate.
Point sources of pollution in this watershed have contributed cyanide, arsenic, copper, mercury, cadmium and
lead. These pollutants violate EPA's Federal Aquatic Life chronic criteria as well as EPA’s Federal human
health criteria for exposure to carcinogens. Accordingly DEP has labeled the stretch of the Passaic River
between the confluence of the Dead River (Somerset County) and the confluence with the Whippany
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“impaired” as well as included it in the State’s water quality limited waters list (303d list). The Millington
Asbestos site has been linked to the release of asbestos to the Passaic River.
Suspected generators of nonpoint sources of pollution are residential and commercial development, highway
and urban surface runoff, stormwater outfalls, application of golf course, lawn and garden chemicals, septic
system leachate, and leaking underground storage tanks.
Dischargers, regulated by the NJPDES, include:
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NJ DEP, 1992 Inventory III-248 and NJ DEP, 1996 Inventory 59.
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