Drinking water quality · 2024
· Verified
What's in Newark, NJ tap water
15 contaminants were measured in the Newark, NJ water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 1 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 15
- Over federal limit
- 1
- Approaching the limit
- 1
- Worst contaminant
- PFOA
- Service area
- NJ
Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Newark, NJ's drinking water comes from surface water, drawn from 1 source.
Source
- PEQUANNOCK SUPPLY
Treatment
- PEQUANNOCK WATER TREATMENT PLANT
- WQP TP2/CEDAR GROVE RESERVOIR, VALLEY RD
- WQP TP 1/ LITTLE FALLS BYPASS
Distribution
Also buys water from N.J.D.W.S.C. - WANAQUE NORTH.
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.
- Maximum contaminant level exceededHealth-based20 violations on record · most recent Jan 2020resolved
- Treatment technique violationHealth-based12 violations on record · most recent Jul 2022resolved
Source: EPA SDWIS / ECHO. View the full federal record on EPA ECHO ↗
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFOAPerfluorooctanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in nonstick and stain-resistant products. | 4.9 ng/LReported levelWanaque | 0 ng/LMCLG | At or above the limit |
+By source (2)— Njdwsc, Pwtp
| |||
| PFOSPerfluorooctanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in firefighting foam and coatings. | 3.8 ng/LReported levelWanaque | 0 ng/LMCLG | Approaching the limit |
+By source (2)— Njdwsc, Pwtp
| |||
| Perfluorohexanesulfonic acidPerfluorohexanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 1.3 ng/LReported levelWanaque | 10 ng/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| Perfluorononanoic acidPerfluorononanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 0.69 ng/LReported levelWanaque | 10 ng/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| Perfluorobutanesulfonic acidPerfluorobutanesulfonic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 1.5 ng/LReported levelWanaque | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acidPerfluoroheptanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 1.3 ng/LReported levelWanaque | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Perfluorohexanoic acidPerfluorohexanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 2.2 ng/LReported levelWanaque | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Perfluoropentanoic acidPerfluoropentanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 2.2 ng/LReported levelWanaque | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| PFBAPerfluorobutanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 2.6 ng/LReported levelWanaque | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 54 ug/LRunning annual avgSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 39 ug/LRunning annual avgSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.115 mg/L90th percentileNewark | 1.3 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.00961 mg/LReported levelNjdwsc | 2 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 0 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 0.015 mg/LAction level | None detected |
Other
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dehp | 0.08 ug/LReported levelSystem-wide | 0 ug/LMCLG | Within the limit |
People also ask about Newark, NJ's water
+Is Newark, NJ tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the Newark, 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 Newark, NJ tap water?
15 contaminants were measured in Newark, NJ's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning pfas ("forever chemicals"), metals, and disinfection byproducts. 8 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 Newark, NJ tap water?
One contaminant in Newark, NJ's 2024 report sits at or above the federal limit: PFOA (1.2× 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 Newark, NJ tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is PFOA, at 1.2× the federal threshold. It belongs to the pfas ("forever chemicals") family of contaminants.
+Are any contaminants in Newark, NJ tap water approaching the federal limit?
One contaminant is between 80% and 100% of the federal limit in this report: PFOS. Approaching means measured but not in violation — a margin that can close quickly if conditions change.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Newark, 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 Newark, 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.