A water jet edge trimming station 12 for trimming the edges 54 of coated paper web 14 during on-machine operation including backsplash compensating features. The edge trimming station 12 has a cutting station 13 over which the web 14 travels to be cut. The water jet travels along a water jet axis 48 to a point of impingement 52 to cut the web 14. The cutting station 13 has an effluent receiving aperture at the point of impingement 84. A negative pressure mixing zone 90 located below the aperture draws effluent by-products or backsplash associated with cutting of the web 14 below the cutting surface 82. The water jet axis 48 is offset a first predetermined angle 62 chosen relative to a normal axis 61 passing at right angles through the point of impingement 84 to reduce backsplash. The water jet axis 48 is rotated about the normal 61 axis by a second predetermined angle 58 to direct the effluent by-products away from the water jet nozzle 33 and the traveling web 14. The water jet nozzle 33 has a positive air pressure chamber 64 surrounding the nozzle head 64 to maintain an air flow over the nozzle head 64 driving effluent backsplash away from the nozzle head 64.