Drinking water quality · 2024
· Verified
What's in Jersey City, NJ tap water
21 contaminants were measured in the Jersey City, NJ water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 5 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 21
- Over federal limit
- 5
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Worst contaminant
- PFOA
- Service area
- NJ
- PFOAPFAS ("forever chemicals") · Average7.3 ng/Llimit 2 ng/L · 3.6× the limit
- ManganeseMetals · Average1.4 ug/Llimit 0.4 ug/L · 3.5× the limit
- Perfluorohexanesulfonic acidPFAS ("forever chemicals") · Average4.9 ng/Llimit 2 ng/L · 2.5× the limit
- Perfluoropentanoic acidPFAS ("forever chemicals") · Average3.8 ng/Llimit 2 ng/L · 1.9× the limit
- Perfluorohexanoic acidPFAS ("forever chemicals") · Average3.7 ng/Llimit 2 ng/L · 1.9× the limit
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
2 PFAS compounds above EPA limits in Jersey City, NJ
The EPA finalized the first-ever federal drinking-water limits for six PFAS compounds in April 2024. These numbers come straight from EPA's UCMR5 lab dataset — every U.S. system serving more than 3,300 people tested every PFAS sample at an entry point to its distribution system. PFAS not listed below were either tested and not detected, or not yet sampled.
PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic acid)
● Over EPA limit (2.3×)near national p90 (13.649999999999999 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFOS (Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid)
● Over EPA limit (1.9×)below national p90 (19.900000000000006 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFHxS (Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid)
● Below limitbelow national p90 (12.049999999999997 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFPeA
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (15.95999999999999 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFHxA
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (12.190000000000003 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Jersey City, NJ's drinking water comes from surface water, drawn from 1 source.
Source
- RESERVOIR
Treatment
- JERSEY CITY RESERVOIR TP
Distribution
Also buys water from PASSAIC VALLEY WATER COMMISSION, VEOLIA WATER NEW JERSEY HACKENSACK.
Historical readings · EPA Six-Year Review (2012–2019)
1 contaminant historically over EPA limits in Jersey City, NJ
Every U.S. public water system reports compliance-monitoring data to EPA. The Six-Year Review releases the 2012–2019 window as a single dataset — here's what your system reported, year by year. Values shown are the highest detection per analyte per year, compared to the federal MCL.
| Contaminant | Worst detection | EPA limit | Years (2012–2019) |
|---|---|---|---|
TTHM worst: 2018 | 0.103 mg/L 1.3× | 0.08 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
HAA5 worst: 2012 | 0.055 mg/L 92% | 0.06 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
ARSENIC worst: 2019 | 0.000632 mg/L within below national p90 | 0.01 mg/L | '19 |
DEHP worst: 2018 | 0.00033 mg/L within | 0.006 mg/L | '12'16'18 |
BARIUM worst: 2014 | 0.104 mg/L within below national p90 | 2 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
NITRATE worst: 2019 | 0.48 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '12'13'18'19 |
NITRATE NITRITE worst: 2019 | 0.48 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
CHROMIUM worst: 2013 | 0.0036 mg/L within below national p90 | 0.1 mg/L | '12'13'17'18'19 |
FLUORIDE worst: 2015 | 0.1 mg/L within | 4 mg/L | '12'15'16 |
CYANIDE worst: 2016 | 0.003 mg/L within below national p90 | 0.2 mg/L | '16 |
TOLUENE worst: 2013 | 0.00071 mg/L within | 1 mg/L | '13 |
COPPER worst: 2012 | 0.27 mg/L below national p90 | — | '12'15'17'18'19 |
LEAD worst: 2012 | 0.0163 mg/L | — | '12'15'17'18'19 |
DBAA worst: 2015 | 0.0012 mg/L | — | '15 |
DCAA worst: 2012 | 0.025 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
MCAA worst: 2015 | 0.0057 mg/L | — | '15'16 |
TCAA worst: 2012 | 0.03 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
BROMODICHLOROMETHANE worst: 2012 | 0.0197 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
BROMOFORM worst: 2015 | 0.00065 mg/L | — | '15 |
CHLOROFORM worst: 2012 | 0.052 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
DIBROMOCHLOROMETHANE worst: 2012 | 0.006 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ManganeseA naturally occurring metal from soil and rock. | 1.4 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 0.4 ug/LMCL | At or above the limit |
| Antimony | 0.000637 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | 0.006 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| NickelA metal from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.000545 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 1.2 mg/LAverageNjdwsc | 4 mg/LMRDL | Within the limit |
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluoroheptanoic acidPerfluoroheptanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 1.1 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | 10 ng/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Perfluorononanoic acidPerfluorononanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | Not detected ng/LReported levelNjdwsc | None set | None detected |
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. | 4 %MaximumSystem-wide | 0 %MCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOCTotal organic carbon — a measure of organic material dissolved in the water. | 1.3Running annual avgSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.619 NTUMaximumSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Jersey City, NJ's water
+Is Jersey City, NJ tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the Jersey City, NJ water utility lists 5 contaminants at or above the federal limit: PFOA, Manganese, Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid, Perfluoropentanoic acid, and Perfluorohexanoic acid. Whether that means the water is "unsafe" depends on which contaminant, how long the exposure, and individual health factors. The table on this page shows the measured value, the federal threshold, and the regulated statistic used for compliance.
+What contaminants are in Jersey City, NJ tap water?
21 contaminants were measured in Jersey City, NJ's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, pfas ("forever chemicals"), and disinfection byproducts. 17 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Which contaminants exceed federal limits in Jersey City, NJ tap water?
5 contaminants in Jersey City, NJ's 2024 report sit at or above the federal limit: PFOA (3.6× the limit); Manganese (3.5× the limit); Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (2.5× the limit); Perfluoropentanoic acid (1.9× the limit); Perfluorohexanoic acid (1.9× the limit). The EPA enforces these limits against the regulated reporting statistic — typically a running annual average or 90th percentile — not a one-off sample spike.
+What is the worst contaminant in Jersey City, NJ tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is PFOA, at 3.6× the federal threshold. It belongs to the pfas ("forever chemicals") family of contaminants.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Jersey City, NJ's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. public water utility is required by federal law to publish. The original source document is archived and viewable on this site. A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
+How often is Jersey City, NJ's water quality data updated?
Each U.S. public water utility publishes one Consumer Confidence Report per year, covering the prior calendar year's measurements. This page reflects the 2024 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.