Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026

RIDGEWOOD WATER

Serving 61,700 residents in RIDGEWOOD TWP-0251, New Jersey .

National rank 9th percentile
New Jersey rank 26th percentile
Data confidence Medium
Quick answer

RIDGEWOOD WATER delivers tap water graded F (50/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 61,700 residents in RIDGEWOOD TWP-0251, New Jersey using surface water (purchased). The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 201-670-5521.

Data sources for this grade: utilities.csv EWG Tap Water Database ⓘ How did we get this rating?
61,700
People served
1
City served
41
Contaminants detected
20
Above health guidelines
0
EPA violations (5 yr)

Is RIDGEWOOD TWP-0251 tap water safe to drink?

RIDGEWOOD WATER 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 61,700 residents in RIDGEWOOD TWP-0251, drawing from surface water (purchased).

Public testing data identifies 20 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Arsenic, Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Perfluoroheptane sulfonic acid (PFHpS), Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Bromodichloromethane, Dibromoacetic acid, Nitrate, Nitrate and nitrite, Dibromochloromethane, Chloroform, Chromium (hexavalent), Trichloroacetic acid, Dichloroacetic acid, Radium, combined (-226 and -228), 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.

Top concerns in this water

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

PFAS contamination

Severe concern

Perfluorononanoic 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 concern

Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 3.32 ppt, 3320x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) detected at 20.7 ppt, 230x above the EWG health guideline of 0.09 ppt.

Arsenic significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Arsenic detected at 0.857 ppb, 214x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.

Contact RIDGEWOOD WATER

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

General Contact

Address131 NORTH MAPLE AVENUE, RIDGEWOOD, NJ 07450
Main phone201-670-5521

Recommended water filters for RIDGEWOOD TWP-0251

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

Reverse Osmosis

$249-$750

Arsenic is most effectively removed by reverse osmosis. Some specialized adsorptive filters also work.

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 →

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 →

Health Guideline Performance
10 / 40
Legal Compliance
20 / 20
High-Risk Contaminants
3 / 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
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
PFAS
20.7 ppt 0.09 4.0 100 100 0.007 EPA violation
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)
PFAS
8.54 ppt 0.3 4.0 100 100 1 EPA violation
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS)
PFAS
3.32 ppt 0.001 10.0 3320× over
Arsenic
Heavy metal
0.857 ppb 0.004 10.0 10 10 0.004 214× over
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Disinfection byproduct
22.7 ppb 0.15 80.0 100 151× over
Haloacetic acids (HAA9)
Disinfection byproduct
6.87 ppb 0.06 115× over
Perfluoroheptane sulfonic acid (PFHpS)
PFAS
0.083 ppt 0.001 83× over
Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)
PFAS
0.492 ppt 0.006 10.0 82× over
Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
Disinfection byproduct
7.69 ppb 0.1 60.0 60 77× over
Bromodichloromethane
Disinfection byproduct
3.78 ppb 0.06 63× over
Dibromoacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
1.65 ppb 0.03 55× over
Nitrate
Inorganic
4.2 ppm 0.14 10.0 11.3 11.3 10 30× over
Nitrate and nitrite
Inorganic
4.2 ppm 0.14 10.0 11.3 11.3 10 30× over
Dibromochloromethane
Disinfection byproduct
2.27 ppb 0.1 23× over
Chloroform
Disinfection byproduct
7.91 ppb 0.4 20× over
Chromium (hexavalent)
Heavy metal
0.398 ppb 0.02 20× over
Trichloroacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
1.93 ppb 0.1 19× over
Dichloroacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
3.55 ppb 0.2 18× over
Radium, combined (-226 and -228)
Radiological
0.67 pCi/L 0.05 5.0 13× over
Bromoform
Disinfection byproduct
1.31 ppb 0.5 2.6× over
Uranium
Radiological
0.33 pCi/L 0.43 20.0 30 30 0.43 Below guideline
Barium
Heavy metal
381.7 ppb 700.0 2000.0 1300 2000 Below guideline
Chlorate
Disinfection byproduct
70.9 ppb 210.0 Below guideline
1,4-Dioxane
Semi-volatile organic compound
0.0433 ppb 0.35 50 1 Below guideline
Vanadium
Other
0.72 ppb 21.0 Below guideline
Manganese
Heavy metal
2.38 ppb 100.0 50 80 Below guideline
Monobromoacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
0.557 ppb 25.0 Below guideline
Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA)
PFAS
8.45 ppt 1000.0 Below guideline
Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)
Volatile organic compound
0.00046 ppb 0.06 5.0 Below guideline
Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA)
PFAS
5.52 ppt 1000.0 Below guideline
Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA)
PFAS
5.49 ppt 1000.0 Below guideline
Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA)
PFAS
4.5 ppt 1000.0 Below guideline
Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS)
PFAS
2.84 ppt 2000.0 Below guideline
Aluminum
Heavy metal
0.847 ppb 600.0 200 600 Below guideline
Strontium
Radiological
0.336 ppb 1500.0 Below guideline
1,1-Dichloroethane
Volatile organic compound
7.1e-05 ppb 3.0 Below guideline
Chlorodifluoromethane
Other
0.00563 ppb Below guideline
Chromium (total)
Heavy metal
0.974 ppb 100.0 Below guideline
Fluoride
Inorganic
0.00157 ppm 4.0 1.5 1.5 Below guideline
Lithium
Other
2.36 ppb Below guideline
Nitrite
Inorganic
0.00214 ppm 1.0 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.

RIDGEWOOD WATER service area

This water system serves 1 community in Bergen County, New Jersey. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.

About this water system

Public Water System ID
NJ0251001
Owner type
Local government
Source water
Surface water (purchased)
Service connections
20,481
Service area
RIDGEWOOD TWP-0251, Bergen County, New Jersey