Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026

SOUTHEAST MORRIS COUNTY MUA

Serving 62,349 residents in MENDHAM TWP.-1419, New Jersey and 6 other communities.

National rank 17th percentile
New Jersey rank 56th percentile
Data confidence Medium
Quick answer

SOUTHEAST MORRIS COUNTY MUA delivers tap water graded F (53/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 62,349 residents in MENDHAM TWP.-1419, 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 973-476-4341.

Data sources for this grade: utilities.csv EWG Tap Water Database ⓘ How did we get this rating?
62,349
People served
7
Cities served
39
Contaminants detected
19
Above health guidelines
0
EPA violations (5 yr)

Is MENDHAM TWP.-1419 tap water safe to drink?

SOUTHEAST MORRIS COUNTY MUA delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (53/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.

The utility serves 62,349 residents in MENDHAM TWP.-1419 and 6 other communities, drawing from surface water.

Public testing data identifies 19 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), Trichloroacetic acid, Bromodichloromethane, Dichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Dibromochloromethane, Dibromoacetic acid, Chromium (hexavalent), Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Arsenic, Nitrate, Nitrate and nitrite, Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), 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.

Top concerns in this water

Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for SOUTHEAST MORRIS COUNTY MUA.

PFAS contamination

Severe concern

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) 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 1.27 ppt, 1272x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.

Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Haloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 32.6 ppb, 543x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.

Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 50.8 ppb, 339x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.

Arsenic detected

Moderate concern

Arsenic detected at 0.0357 ppb.

Contact SOUTHEAST MORRIS COUNTY MUA

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

General Contact

Address19 SADDLE ROAD, CEDAR KNOLLS, NJ 07927
Main phone973-476-4341

Recommended water filters for MENDHAM TWP.-1419

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 53/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →

Health Guideline Performance
10 / 40
Legal Compliance
20 / 20
High-Risk Contaminants
6 / 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
5.71 ppt 0.09 4.0 100 100 0.007 EPA violation
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS)
PFAS
1.27 ppt 0.001 10.0 1272× over
Haloacetic acids (HAA9)
Disinfection byproduct
32.6 ppb 0.06 543× over
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Disinfection byproduct
50.8 ppb 0.15 80.0 100 339× over
Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
Disinfection byproduct
33.4 ppb 0.1 60.0 60 334× over
Trichloroacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
19.6 ppb 0.1 196× over
Bromodichloromethane
Disinfection byproduct
7.74 ppb 0.06 129× over
Dichloroacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
12.7 ppb 0.2 64× over
Chloroform
Disinfection byproduct
23.3 ppb 0.4 58× over
Dibromochloromethane
Disinfection byproduct
3.25 ppb 0.1 33× over
Dibromoacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
0.717 ppb 0.03 24× over
Chromium (hexavalent)
Heavy metal
0.283 ppb 0.02 14× over
Radium, combined (-226 and -228)
Radiological
0.46 pCi/L 0.05 5.0 9.1× over
Arsenic
Heavy metal
0.0357 ppb 0.004 10.0 10 10 0.004 8.9× over
Nitrate
Inorganic
1.1 ppm 0.14 10.0 11.3 11.3 10 7.9× over
Nitrate and nitrite
Inorganic
1.1 ppm 0.14 10.0 11.3 11.3 10 7.9× over
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)
PFAS
1.85 ppt 0.3 4.0 100 100 1 6.2× over
Uranium
Radiological
0.75 pCi/L 0.43 20.0 30 30 0.43 1.7× over
Bromoform
Disinfection byproduct
0.517 ppb 0.5 1.0× over
1,4-Dioxane
Semi-volatile organic compound
0.302 ppb 0.35 50 1 Below guideline
Chlorate
Disinfection byproduct
90.2 ppb 210.0 Below guideline
Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)
Volatile organic compound
0.0118 ppb 0.06 5.0 Below guideline
Barium
Heavy metal
49.1 ppb 700.0 2000.0 1300 2000 Below guideline
Manganese
Heavy metal
4.37 ppb 100.0 50 80 Below guideline
MTBE
Volatile organic compound
0.521 ppb 13.0 Below guideline
Vanadium
Other
0.788 ppb 21.0 Below guideline
Aluminum
Heavy metal
3.63 ppb 600.0 200 600 Below guideline
Monochloroacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
0.32 ppb 53.0 Below guideline
Molybdenum
Other
0.127 ppb 40.0 Below guideline
Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA)
PFAS
2.46 ppt 1000.0 Below guideline
Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA)
PFAS
2.3 ppt 1000.0 Below guideline
Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA)
PFAS
2.12 ppt 1000.0 Below guideline
Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA)
PFAS
0.955 ppt 1000.0 Below guideline
Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS)
PFAS
0.835 ppt 2000.0 Below guideline
1,1-Dichloroethane
Volatile organic compound
0.00102 ppb 3.0 Below guideline
Strontium
Radiological
0.218 ppb 1500.0 Below guideline
Chlorodifluoromethane
Other
0.445 ppb Below guideline
Chromium (total)
Heavy metal
0.76 ppb 100.0 Below guideline
Fluoride
Inorganic
0.0325 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
NJ1424001
Owner type
Local government
Source water
Surface water
Service connections
17,349
Service area
MENDHAM TWP.-1419, Morris County, New Jersey