Wastewater management is critical to protecting water resources. The ANJEC paper Septic Systems, Clean Water and Your Municipality explains the connections between development, water pollution, sanitary sewers, and septics.  Residents in more than 300 NJ communities use on-site septic systems. Most of them depend on wells for their water supply. Because septic systems replenish the groundwater, it is very important that they function properly and do not pollute the groundwater.