New Jersey Water Quality Report

Tap water quality data for 172 cities in New Jersey, updated 2026.

Avg. Hardness: 89 ppm (Moderately Hard)84 cities with violationsAll cities below EPA lead limit
Avg. Hardness
89 ppm
Moderately Hard

US average: 100 ppm

Violations (3yr)
2570
63 health-based

88 of 172 cities violation-free

Lead Compliance
67%
Below EPA Limit

172 cities tested

Water Source
Surface Water
83% of systems

172 water systems tracked

Water Hardness Across New Jersey

Soft
69 (40%)
Moderate
10 (6%)
Hard
91 (53%)
Very Hard
2 (1%)
Hardest: Jersey City-0906 (281 ppm)Softest: Voorhees Twp.-0434 (9.4 ppm)

Not sure what your hardness means? Use our Water Hardness Calculator or find the best hardness test kits.

New Jersey Tap Water: What You Need to Know

New Jersey has 172 tracked water utilities serving approximately 78.2M residents. The average water hardness is 89 ppm (5.2 GPG), classified as Moderately Hardbelow the national average of 100 ppm. Hardness ranges from 9.4 ppm in Voorhees Twp.-0434 to 281 ppm in Jersey City-0906.

In the past 3 years, 84 of 172 cities in New Jersey have recorded water quality violations, totaling 2570 violations (63 health-based). All 172 tested cities have lead levels below the EPA action level of 15 ppb.

Frequently Asked Questions About New Jersey Water

Is tap water safe to drink in New Jersey?

Most tap water in New Jersey meets EPA standards, but 84 cities have recorded violations in the past 3 years (63 health-based). We recommend checking your specific city's report on TapWater.org and considering a home water test.

How hard is the water in New Jersey?

New Jersey's average water hardness is 89 ppm (5.2 GPG), classified as Moderately Hard. This is below the national average of 100 ppm. Hardness varies significantly by city — use our Water Hardness Calculator to check your specific area.

Which city in New Jersey has the cleanest tap water?

Based on EPA violation data, lead testing, and water quality metrics, Lodi Boro-0231 ranks as having the cleanest tap water in New Jersey. It has zero violations in the past 3 years.

Which city in New Jersey has the most water quality issues?

Mount Olive Twp.-1427 currently has the most water quality concerns in New Jersey, with 347 violations in the past 3 years. Residents should check their city's detailed water quality report and consider using a certified water filter.

Where does New Jersey get its water from?

The majority of New Jersey's water systems (83%) use surface water as their primary source. Surface water comes from rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. Each city's specific source can vary — check individual city reports for details.

48 of 172 Cities

Sorted by population served

Lodi Boro-0231

Utility serves 817K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Montvale Boro-0236

Utility serves 810K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Hillsdale Boro-0227

Utility serves 809K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Woodcliff Lake Boro-0268

Utility serves 809K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Wallington Boro-0265

Utility serves 804K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
Violations4 (3yr)

Alpine Boro-0202

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Bergenfield Boro-0203

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Bogota Boro-0204

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Carlstadt Boro-0205

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Cliffside Park Boro-0206

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Closter Boro-0207

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Cresskill Boro-0208

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Demarest Boro-0209

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Dumont Boro-0210

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

East Rutherford Boro-0212

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Edgewater Boro-0213

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Emerson Boro-0214

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Englewood City-0215

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Englewood Cliffs Boro-0216

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Fairview Boro-0218

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Fort Lee Boro-0219

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Guttenberg Town-0903

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Hackensack City-0223

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Harrington Park Boro-0224

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Hasbrouck Heights-0225

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Haworth Boro-0226

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Leonia Boro-0229

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Little Ferry Boro-0230

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Maywood Boro-0234

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Moonachie Boro-0237

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

New Milford Boro-0238

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

North Bergen Twp.-0908

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Northvale Boro-0240

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Norwood Boro-0241

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Old Tappan Boro-0243

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Oradell Boro-0244

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Palisades Park Boro-0245

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Paramus Boro-0246

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Ridgefield Boro-0249

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Ridgefield Park Twp-0250

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

River Edge Boro-0252

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

River Vale Twp-0253

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Rochelle Park Twp-0254

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Rockleigh Boro-0255

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Rutherford Boro-0256

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Secaucus Town-0909

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

South Hackensack Twp-.0259

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone

Teaneck Twp-.0260

Utility serves 793K

Hardness126 ppm
LeadAbove limit
ViolationsNone