Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
NEW BRUNSWICK W DEPT
NEW BRUNSWICK W DEPT delivers tap water graded F (47/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 55,000 residents in NEW BRUNSWICK CITY-1214, New Jersey using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 908-331-5681.
Is NEW BRUNSWICK CITY-1214 tap water safe to drink?
NEW BRUNSWICK W DEPT delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (47/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 55,000 residents in NEW BRUNSWICK CITY-1214, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 16 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Trichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Dibromochloromethane, Dibromoacetic acid, Chromium (hexavalent), Nitrate, Nitrate and nitrite. 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 NEW BRUNSWICK CITY-1214 residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for NEW BRUNSWICK W DEPT.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 41.9 ppb, 698x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 0.582 ppt, 582x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 33.5 ppb, 335x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Contact NEW BRUNSWICK W DEPT
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for NEW BRUNSWICK CITY-1214
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon
$80-$750Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
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 47/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
8.79 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
4.47 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
41.9 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 698× over |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.582 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 582× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
33.5 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 335× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
48.1 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 321× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
9.25 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 154× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
14.9 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 149× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
36.8 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 92× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
15.1 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 75× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.214 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 36× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.93 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 19× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.289 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 9.6× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0851 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.3× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.323 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 2.3× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.265 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 1.9× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
199.3 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
74.1 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
10.0 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
38.1 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.87 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.314 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.319 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
3.7 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
3.59 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
2.17 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.873 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0953 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
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.
NEW BRUNSWICK W DEPT service area
This water system serves 1 community in Middlesex County, New Jersey. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for NEW BRUNSWICK CITY-1214 water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.