Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
NJ AMERICAN WATER - SHORT HILLS
NJ AMERICAN WATER - SHORT HILLS delivers tap water graded F (52/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 217,230 residents in SUMMIT CITY-2018, New Jersey using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Radon significantly above health guideline; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic detected. For questions, the utility can be reached at 973-564-5727.
Is SUMMIT CITY-2018 tap water safe to drink?
NJ AMERICAN WATER - SHORT HILLS delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (52/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 217,230 residents in SUMMIT CITY-2018 and 28 other communities, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 21 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Radon, Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Arsenic, Bromodichloromethane, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Dibromoacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Trichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Chromium (hexavalent), Nitrate, Nitrate and nitrite, Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA), Uranium, Bromoform. 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 SUMMIT CITY-2018 residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for NJ AMERICAN WATER - SHORT HILLS.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Radon significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernRadon detected at 1821.67 pCi/L, 1214x above the EWG health guideline of 1.5 pCi/L.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 0.914 ppt, 914x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 14.7 ppb, 245x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.625 ppb.
Contact NJ AMERICAN WATER - SHORT HILLS
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 SUMMIT CITY-2018
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.
Reverse Osmosis
$249-$750Arsenic is most effectively removed by reverse osmosis. Some specialized adsorptive filters also work.
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 52/100 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 |
4.69 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | EPA violation |
| Radon Radiological |
1821.67 pCi/L | 1.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 1214× over |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.914 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 914× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
14.7 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 245× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
28.3 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 188× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.625 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 156× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
7.71 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 129× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
12.3 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 123× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.67 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 56× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
5.28 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 53× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
4.39 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 44× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
14.4 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 36× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
6.26 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 31× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.397 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 20× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
2.32 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 17× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
2.32 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 17× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.5 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 9.9× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.14 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 3.8× over |
| Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA) PFAS |
0.016 ppt | 0.006 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.7× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
1.01 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 2.4× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.81 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.6× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
97.5 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) Volatile organic compound |
0.0221 ppb | 0.06 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
12.5 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
2.53 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
65.6 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| 1,2,3-Trichloropropane Other |
6.4e-05 ppb | 0.0007 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0255 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
3.68 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.204 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
2.87 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Cobalt Other |
0.0958 ppb | 70.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
1.21 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
0.752 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.308 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.441 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.24 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Toluene Volatile organic compound |
0.00909 ppb | 150.0 | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.0207 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
0.0134 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
2.7 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | 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.
NJ AMERICAN WATER - SHORT HILLS service area
This water system serves 29 communities in Union County, New Jersey. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for SUMMIT CITY-2018 water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.