Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
NJ AMERICAN WATER - RARITAN
NJ AMERICAN WATER - RARITAN delivers tap water graded F (50/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 615,430 residents in ELIZABETH CITY- 2004, New Jersey using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic detected. For questions, the utility can be reached at 609-605-2271.
Is ELIZABETH CITY- 2004 tap water safe to drink?
NJ AMERICAN WATER - RARITAN delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (50/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 615,430 residents in ELIZABETH CITY- 2004 and 1 other community, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 20 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Bromodichloromethane, Trichloroacetic acid, Arsenic, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Chromium (hexavalent), Nitrate, Nitrate and nitrite, Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Dibromoacetic acid, Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Bromate, 1,4-Dioxane. 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.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for NJ AMERICAN WATER - RARITAN (system ID NJ2004002) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Quick actions for ELIZABETH CITY- 2004 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 - RARITAN.
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.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 2.2 ppt, 2203x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 23.0 ppb, 384x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 35.0 ppb, 233x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.273 ppb.
Contact NJ AMERICAN WATER - RARITAN
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 ELIZABETH CITY- 2004
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.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
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 50/100 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 |
7.49 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
2.2 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 2203× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
23.0 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 384× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
35.0 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 233× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
20.7 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 207× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
7.51 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 125× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
12.4 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 124× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.273 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 68× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
25.7 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 64× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
8.19 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 41× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.76 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 18× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
3.8 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 13× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.242 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 12× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.25 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 9.0× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
1.25 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 9.0× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.036 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 6.0× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0893 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.0× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.14 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 2.8× over |
| Bromate Disinfection byproduct |
0.25 ppb | 0.1 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.1 | — | 2.5× over |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.351 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | 1.0× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
0.26 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
126.0 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,2,3-Trichloropropane Other |
0.000391 ppb | 0.0007 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
3.59 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
81.8 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
5.62 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromochloromethane Other |
0.00333 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.0256 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
1.5 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
10.0 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
2.43 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
1.01 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
1.41 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.513 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromide Other |
19.3 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.0555 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
0.0468 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
8.7 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 - RARITAN service area
This water system serves 2 communities in Union County, New Jersey. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for ELIZABETH CITY- 2004 water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.