Drinking water quality · 2025
· Verified
What's in Lakewood, NJ tap water
33 contaminants were measured in the Lakewood, NJ water system's 2025 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 4 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2025
- Contaminants measured
- 33
- Over federal limit
- 4
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Worst contaminant
- 1,2,3-TCP
- Service area
- NJ
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
1 PFAS compound above EPA limits in Lakewood, 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 (1.9×)near national p90 (13.649999999999999 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
6:2 FTS
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (0.03898000000000001 µg/L across detecting U.S. systems)
Lithium
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (76.59999999999991 mg/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFPeA
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (15.95999999999999 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFBS
● Detected (no federal limit)near national p90 (13.909999999999979 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
Lakewood, NJ's drinking water comes from ground water, drawn from 51 sources.
Source
- WELL · 11
- SWIMMING RIVER · 2
- ABERDEEN ASR
- GLENDOLA RESERVOIR/WALL TOWNSHIP
- + 36 more
Treatment
- JUMPING BROOK TP
- STRATMORE TP (ABERDEEN)
- SWIMMING RIVER PLANT/COLTS NECK
- + 15 more
Distribution
Also buys water from MARLBORO TOWNSHIP WATER UTILITY DIVISION, PARKWAY WATER COMPANY.
Historical readings · EPA Six-Year Review (2012–2019)
2 contaminants historically over EPA limits in Lakewood, 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: 2012 | 0.115 mg/L 1.4× | 0.08 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
HAA5 worst: 2018 | 0.075 mg/L 1.3× | 0.06 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
RADIUM 226 228 worst: 2019 | 4.18 pCi/L 84% near national p90 | 5 pCi/L | '12'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
CHLORITE worst: 2017 | 0.57 mg/L within | 1 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
FLUORIDE worst: 2018 | 0.87 mg/L within | 4 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
NITRATE worst: 2018 | 1.68 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
NITRATE NITRITE worst: 2018 | 1.68 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
CARBON TETRACHLORIDE worst: 2016 | 0.0007 mg/L within below national p90 | 0.005 mg/L | '16'19 |
CYANIDE worst: 2017 | 0.006 mg/L within below national p90 | 0.2 mg/L | '17 |
ATRAZINE worst: 2012 | 0.00006 mg/L within below national p90 | 0.003 mg/L | '12 |
DEHP worst: 2012 | 0.00006 mg/L within | 0.006 mg/L | '12'16 |
STYRENE worst: 2018 | 0.0005 mg/L within | 0.1 mg/L | '18 |
XYLENES TOTAL worst: 2018 | 0.0007 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '12'18 |
COPPER worst: 2013 | 0.03 mg/L below national p90 | — | '13'14'17'18'19 |
LEAD worst: 2014 | 0.026 mg/L | — | '14'17'18'19 |
DBAA worst: 2012 | 0.0017 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18 |
DCAA worst: 2012 | 0.021 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
MBAA worst: 2012 | 0.0069 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18 |
MCAA worst: 2012 | 0.0032 mg/L | — | '12'14'17 |
TCAA worst: 2012 | 0.0368 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
BROMODICHLOROMETHANE worst: 2012 | 0.0234 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
BROMOFORM worst: 2012 | 0.0006 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'18 |
CHLOROFORM worst: 2012 | 0.0857 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
DIBROMOCHLOROMETHANE worst: 2012 | 0.0074 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
VOCs & pesticides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,2,3-TCP | 0.01 ug/LReported levelSystem-wide | 0.0005 ug/LMCLG | At or above the limit |
| Volatile Organic Compounds | 10Reported levelShrewsbury Area Wells - 10 | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
+By source (5)— Shrewsbury Area Wells - 10, Lakewood Area Wells - 14, Shrewsbury Area Surface Water Intakes - 5 +2 more
| |||
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 69.9 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 50 mg/LMCL | At or above the limit |
| IronA naturally occurring metal common in groundwater. | 0.31 mg/LRangeRange Detected | 0.3 mg/LMCL | At or above the limit |
| ManganeseA naturally occurring metal from soil and rock. | 34 ug/LRangeRange Detected | 50 ug/LMCL | Within the limit |
| AluminumA common element sometimes used as a treatment coagulant. | 0.13 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 0.2 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
Physical & aggregate
Inorganic chemicals
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChloramineA longer-lasting disinfectant made by combining chlorine with ammonia. | 1.62 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMRDLG | Within the limit |
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 1.42 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMRDLG | Within the limit |
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Escherichia coli (E. coli)Escherichia coli — bacteria found in the gut of humans and animals. | 0Highest single samplePercentage | 0MCLG | None detected |
| Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. | Not detectedHighest single samplePercentage | 0MCLG | None detected |
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acidHFPO-DA ('GenX chemicals'), a newer-generation PFAS replacement compound. | 0AverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acidPerfluoroheptanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 0.316 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Perfluorohexanesulfonic acidPerfluorohexanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 0AverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Perfluorononanoic acidPerfluorononanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 0AverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| PFBAPerfluorobutanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 4.85AverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| PFOSPerfluorooctanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in firefighting foam and coatings. | 0.18AverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined RadiumCombined radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements. | 2.48 pCi/LReported levelSystem-wide | 0 pCi/LMCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
| Gross AlphaGross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. | 8.34 pCi/LRangeRange Detected | 0 pCi/LMCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
| RadonA naturally occurring radioactive gas that can dissolve into groundwater. | 10Reported levelShrewsbury Area Wells - 10 | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
+By source (5)— Shrewsbury Area Wells - 10, Lakewood Area Wells - 14, Shrewsbury Area Surface Water Intakes - 5 +2 more
| |||
People also ask about Lakewood, NJ's water
+Is Lakewood, NJ tap water safe to drink in 2025?
The 2025 Consumer Confidence Report for the Lakewood, NJ water utility lists 4 contaminants at or above the federal limit: 1,2,3-TCP, Sodium, PFOA, and Iron. 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 Lakewood, NJ tap water?
33 contaminants were measured in Lakewood, NJ's 2025 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning pfas ("forever chemicals"), metals, and inorganic chemicals. 20 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 Lakewood, NJ tap water?
4 contaminants in Lakewood, NJ's 2025 report sit at or above the federal limit: 1,2,3-TCP (20.0× the limit); Sodium (1.4× the limit); PFOA (1.1× the limit); Iron (1.0× 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 Lakewood, NJ tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2025 report is 1,2,3-TCP, at 20.0× the federal threshold. It belongs to the vocs & pesticides family of contaminants.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Lakewood, NJ's 2025 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 Lakewood, 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 2025 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.