Water quality
New Jersey water quality
According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and the US EPA, New Jersey is one of the most PFAS-affected states and also carries a large legacy of lead service lines. NJDEP has adopted enforceable drinking water standards for three PFAS compounds (PFOA, PFOS, and PFNA), and state law requires replacement of all lead service lines by 2031. Most utilities meet federal standards, but lead pipes and forever chemicals are the state's most documented concerns.
Documented considerations
PFAS
According to NJDEP, New Jersey was among the first states to set enforceable drinking water standards for PFOA, PFOS, and PFNA, and PFAS has been detected across a large share of the state's water systems.
Lead
According to EPA and state reporting, New Jersey has tens of thousands of confirmed lead service lines plus hundreds of thousands of unknown-material lines, and a 2021 state law requires replacement of all lead service lines by 2031.
Disinfection byproducts
According to water-quality reporting on New Jersey systems, total trihalomethanes and other disinfection byproducts appear in a large share of systems as a result of chlorination of surface water.
EPA compliance snapshot
From the EPA ECHO Safe Drinking Water Act database, New Jersey community water systems carrying one or more violations on record:
Most common violation categories
- Revised Total Coliform Rule (322)
- Lead and Copper Rule (163)
- Nitrate (99)
- E. Coli (50)
- Public Notice (33)
- Chlorine (27)
Counts are public EPA ECHO figures. 'Health-based' means a system carries at least one health-based violation flag in ECHO. A violation on record is not a statement that current tap water is unsafe; most systems return to compliance. Always check your utility's Consumer Confidence Report for current status. Source: EPA ECHO, retrieved 2026-06-01.
Certified filters for New Jersey's main concerns
- 7.5Culligan US-EZ-4 Under-Sink
An under-sink filter genuinely IAPMO certified to NSF/ANSI 42, 53 and 401 for lead, cysts, VOCs, mercury and PFOA/PFOS.
- 7.2Aquasana AQ-5200 Under-Sink
Certified for lead and PFAS, cheap per gallon, marketing matches the certified scope.
- 7.2AquaTru Classic Countertop RO
A no-plumbing countertop 4-stage RO purifier certified to NSF standards for lead, PFAS, fluoride and arsenic with an efficient drain ratio.
- 4.9ZeroWater 5-Stage Pitcher (7-Cup)
A five-stage ion-exchange pitcher certified for lead, chromium-6 and PFOA/PFOS - but a short 15-gallon filter makes it costly to run.
- 7.3Brita Elite Pitcher (10-Cup)
A pour-through pitcher whose Elite filter is certified to reduce lead, mercury, cadmium and more, with a long 120-gallon cartridge.
- 6.8Frizzlife SK99 Under-Sink Filter
A direct-connect 3-stage under-sink filter with a 0.5 micron carbon block, IAPMO certified to NSF/ANSI 42 and 53 for chlorine, lead and chloramine.
FAQ
- Does New Jersey have a PFAS problem?
- According to NJDEP, New Jersey has widespread PFAS detections and was an early adopter of enforceable state drinking water limits for PFOA, PFOS, and PFNA. Residents can check their utility's reports and consider a PFAS-certified filter if detections are reported.
- Are lead pipes still common in New Jersey?
- According to the EPA and NJDEP, New Jersey still has tens of thousands of confirmed lead service lines and many more of unknown material. A 2021 state law requires all lead service lines to be replaced by 2031, but in the meantime homes with older plumbing may benefit from a lead-certified filter.
- Is New Jersey tap water safe?
- Most New Jersey public water systems meet federal and state standards. The most documented risks, per NJDEP and EPA, are PFAS in some systems and lead leaching from older service lines and household plumbing rather than the source water itself.
Sources
- NJDEP - PFAS in Drinking Water
- NJDEP - PFAS Standards and Regulations
- US EPA - New Jersey Lead Pipe Replacement Funding
Not sure how to read your local report? See our guide on reading a water quality report.