Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026

NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT

Serving 294,274 residents in HILLSIDE TWP.-2007, New Jersey and 5 other communities.

National rank 30th percentile
New Jersey rank 81th percentile
Data confidence Medium
D
57/100
Below Average
ⓘ How did we get this rating?
Quick answer

NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT delivers tap water graded D (57/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 294,274 residents in HILLSIDE TWP.-2007, New Jersey using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 973-733-6303.

Data sources for this grade: utilities.csv EWG Tap Water Database ⓘ How did we get this rating?
294,274
People served
6
Cities served
23
Contaminants detected
12
Above health guidelines
0
EPA violations (5 yr)

Is HILLSIDE TWP.-2007 tap water safe to drink?

NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (57/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.

The utility serves 294,274 residents in HILLSIDE TWP.-2007 and 5 other communities, drawing from surface water.

Public testing data identifies 12 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Trichloroacetic acid, Bromodichloromethane, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Dibromochloromethane, Chromium (hexavalent), Antimony. 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.

Top concerns in this water

Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT.

PFAS contamination

Severe concern

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) 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 concern

Haloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 66.3 ppb, 1105x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.

Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Haloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 37.3 ppb, 373x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.

Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 49.6 ppb, 331x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.

Contact NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT

Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.

General Contact

Address920 Broad Street, NEWARK, NJ 07102
Main phone973-733-6303

Recommended water filters for HILLSIDE TWP.-2007

Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.

Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon

$80-$750

Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.

AquaTru Countertop Reverse Osmosis
$449-$599 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Aquasana OptimH2O Reverse Osmosis + Claryum
$429-$549 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Waterdrop G3P800 Tankless RO
$600-$750 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →
Waterdrop N1 Countertop RO
$249-$329 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →
Clearly Filtered Pitcher Filter
$80-$95 NSF 42, 53, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon

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 57/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →

Health Guideline Performance
10 / 40
Legal Compliance
20 / 20
High-Risk Contaminants
10 / 20
Compliance History
10 / 10
Source Water Vulnerability
7 / 10

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
Haloacetic acids (HAA9)
Disinfection byproduct
66.3 ppb 0.06 1105× over
Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
Disinfection byproduct
37.3 ppb 0.1 60.0 60 373× over
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Disinfection byproduct
49.6 ppb 0.15 80.0 100 331× over
Trichloroacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
18.3 ppb 0.1 183× over
Bromodichloromethane
Disinfection byproduct
7.06 ppb 0.06 118× over
Chloroform
Disinfection byproduct
41.4 ppb 0.4 104× over
Dichloroacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
18.5 ppb 0.2 93× over
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
PFAS
1.7 ppt 0.09 4.0 100 100 0.007 19× over
Radium, combined (-226 and -228)
Radiological
0.5 pCi/L 0.05 5.0 10× over
Dibromochloromethane
Disinfection byproduct
0.902 ppb 0.1 9.0× over
Chromium (hexavalent)
Heavy metal
0.0419 ppb 0.02 2.1× over
Antimony
Heavy metal
1.71 ppb 1.0 6.0 10 20 1 1.7× over
Dibromoacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
0.0255 ppb 0.03 Below guideline
Nitrate
Inorganic
0.062 ppm 0.14 10.0 11.3 11.3 10 Below guideline
Manganese
Heavy metal
23.7 ppb 100.0 50 80 Below guideline
Chlorate
Disinfection byproduct
23.5 ppb 210.0 Below guideline
Barium
Heavy metal
6.38 ppb 700.0 2000.0 1300 2000 Below guideline
Monochloroacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
0.324 ppb 53.0 Below guideline
Monobromoacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
0.0758 ppb 25.0 Below guideline
Strontium
Radiological
0.0389 ppb 1500.0 Below guideline
4-Androstene-3,17-dione
Other
0.375 ppt Below guideline
Cyanide
Inorganic
0.467 ppb 200.0 50 70 150 Below guideline
Fluoride
Inorganic
0.0183 ppm 4.0 1.5 1.5 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.

About this water system

Public Water System ID
NJ0714001
Owner type
Local government
Source water
Surface water
Service connections
36,402
Service area
HILLSIDE TWP.-2007, Essex County, New Jersey