Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
Jersey City Water Utilities
Jersey City Water Utilities delivers tap water graded D (64/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 292,000 residents in Jersey City, New Jersey using surface water (purchased) from the Boonton Reservoir/Wanaque. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Lead detected in source water; Chromium-6 detected. For questions, the utility can be reached at (201) 739-8102.
Is Jersey City tap water safe to drink?
Jersey City Water Utilities delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (64/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 292,000 residents in Jersey City, drawing from surface water (purchased) (Boonton Reservoir/Wanaque) and disinfecting with chloramine.
Public testing data identifies 18 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: PFOA, PFOA, PFOA, Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Chromium-6 (Hexavalent), Chromium-6 (Hexavalent), Chromium-6 (Hexavalent), Nitrate, Nitrate, Nitrate, Lead, Lead, Lead. For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
Quick actions for Jersey City residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for Jersey City Water Utilities.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPFOA, PFOA detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Lead detected in source water
Severe concernLead detected at 4.5 ppb. EWG considers no level of lead safe; EPA's action level is 15 ppb.
Chromium-6 detected
Moderate concernChromium-6 detected at 0.51 ppb.
Contact Jersey City Water Utilities
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Water Quality Contact
For questions about contaminants, test results, or your Consumer Confidence Report.
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for Jersey City
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Filter certified for PFOA/PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58)
$180-$750Reverse osmosis and some carbon block filters reduce PFAS. Look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS.
Filter certified for lead (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58)
$180-$750When lead is a concern, use a filter certified for lead reduction under NSF/ANSI 53 or 58.
Reverse osmosis certified for chromium (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Chromium-6 needs reverse osmosis for reliable reduction. Standard carbon filters do not address it.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 64/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA Organic |
6.46 ppt | 0.004 | 4 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | 2023 | EPA violation |
| PFOA Organic |
5.4 ppt | 0.004 | 4 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | 2024 | EPA violation |
| PFOA Organic |
4.01 ppt | 0.004 | 4 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | 2022 | EPA violation |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
29.6 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 2022 | 296× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
25.8 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 2023 | 258× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
23.5 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 2024 | 235× over |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
43.7 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 2023 | 73× over |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
40.1 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 2022 | 67× over |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
37.3 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 2024 | 62× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.635 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 2022 | 32× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.555 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 2023 | 28× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.51 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 2024 | 26× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
3.1 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 2024 | 22× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
2.74 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 2022 | 20× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
2.48 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 2023 | 18× over |
| Lead Heavy metal |
4.5 ppb | 0 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 0.2 | 2024 | — |
| Lead Heavy metal |
4.3 ppb | 0 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 0.2 | 2023 | — |
| Lead Heavy metal |
4.62 ppb | 0 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 0.2 | 2022 | — |
| Contaminant | Detected (2024) | EWG | EPA | EU DWD | WHO | CA PHG | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
37.3 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 62× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
23.5 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 235× over |
| Lead Heavy metal |
4.5 ppb | 0 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 0.2 | — |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.51 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 26× over |
| PFOA Organic |
5.4 ppt | 0.004 | 4 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | EPA violation |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
3.1 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 22× over |
| Contaminant | Detected (2023) | EWG | EPA | EU DWD | WHO | CA PHG | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
43.7 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 73× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
25.8 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 258× over |
| Lead Heavy metal |
4.3 ppb | 0 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 0.2 | — |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.555 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 28× over |
| PFOA Organic |
6.46 ppt | 0.004 | 4 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | EPA violation |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
2.48 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 18× over |
| Contaminant | Detected (2022) | EWG | EPA | EU DWD | WHO | CA PHG | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
40.1 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 67× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
29.6 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 296× over |
| Lead Heavy metal |
4.62 ppb | 0 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 0.2 | — |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.635 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 32× over |
| PFOA Organic |
4.01 ppt | 0.004 | 4 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | EPA violation |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
2.74 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 20× over |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database, and Jersey City Water Utilities's Consumer Confidence Report.
Jersey City Water Utilities service area
This water system serves 1 community in Hudson County, New Jersey. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for Jersey City water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.