Drinking water quality · 2025
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 — 1 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2025
- Contaminants measured
- 33
- Over federal limit
- 1
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Worst contaminant
- PFOA
- 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×)6:2 FTS
● Detected (no federal limit)PFPeA
● Detected (no federal limit)PFBS
● Detected (no federal limit)PFHxA
● Detected (no federal limit)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.
Compliance history
Federal Safe Drinking Water Act violation & enforcement records (EPA SDWIS). A violation is a regulatory determination by the state or EPA — separate from the measured levels above.
- Treatment technique violationHealth-based1 violation on record · most recent Sep 2019resolved
Source: EPA SDWIS / ECHO. View the full federal record on EPA ECHO ↗
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross AlphaGross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. | 8.34 pCi/LReported levelSystem-wide | 0 pCi/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| Combined RadiumCombined radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements. | 2.48 pCi/LReported levelSystem-wide | 0 pCi/LMCLG | Within the 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
| |||
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. | 699 ug/LReported levelSystem-wide | 800 ug/LMRDLG | Within the limit |
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorite | 0.39 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 0.8 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 1.76 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 10 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.52 mg/LRangeRange Detected | 2 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| ChlorideA naturally occurring salt compound. | 119 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SulfateA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 29.6 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 0.002 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 0.015 mg/LAction level | Within the limit |
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.153 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 1.3 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— Number of Homes Sampled, of Sample Results
| |||
| AluminumA common element sometimes used as a treatment coagulant. | 0.13 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| IronA naturally occurring metal common in groundwater. | 0.31 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| LithiumA naturally occurring element found in some groundwater. | 3.68 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| ManganeseA naturally occurring metal from soil and rock. | 34 ug/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 69.9 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFOSPerfluorooctanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in firefighting foam and coatings. | 0.18 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acidHFPO-DA ('GenX chemicals'), a newer-generation PFAS replacement compound. | 0 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| Perfluorohexanesulfonic acidPerfluorohexanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 0 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| Perfluorononanoic acidPerfluorononanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 0 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acidPerfluoroheptanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 0.316 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| PFBAPerfluorobutanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 4.85 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal 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 detected %Highest single samplePercentage | 0 %MCLG | None detected |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| HardnessA measure of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. | 140 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| TOCTotal organic carbon — a measure of organic material dissolved in the water. | 0.71 %RangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
VOCs & pesticides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,2,3-TCP | 0.01 ug/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal 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
| |||
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 1 contaminant at or above the federal limit: PFOA. 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. 12 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?
One contaminant in Lakewood, NJ's 2025 report sits at or above the federal limit: PFOA (1.1× 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 PFOA, at 1.1× 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 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.