States › New Jersey › Essex County

Essex County, NJ Water Quality

Water quality data for 19 public water systems serving Essex County, New Jersey — based on EPA SDWIS enforcement records, lead testing results, and health-based violation history.

📅 2026 Report 🔄 Data updated 2026 Q2 📍 19 water systems · 23 cities
✅
Generally Safe — Most Systems Performing Well

The majority of water systems have no active violations and lead levels well below the federal action level.

B

Essex County Earns a B

Essex County: 23 communities across 19 water systems. 100.0% have no open violations.

  • Median lead where detected: 2.55 ppb
  • 14 communities with a lead detection, 9 reporting none detected
  • 14 communities with PFAS above the federal limit
  • 1 with significant inspection deficiencies
  • 100.0% of communities have no open violations
2.55 ppb
Median Lead Level
County-wide, 90th percentile
19
Water Systems
Active CWS & NTNCWS
100%
Violation-Free
No active violations on record
How we grade counties: MyWaterIQ uses EPA SDWIS enforcement data — actual MCL violations and lead test results — not the aspirational MCLG targets used by some sites. A grade reflects real compliance history, not theoretical risk. Learn more →

Cities by Water Quality

⭐ Best Performing
  • Roseland
    1.29 ppb
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    B
  • Essex Fells
    2.44 ppb
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    B
  • Montclair
    Not detected
    1 health-based violation since 2015
    A
  • Glen Ridge
    Not detected
    1 significant inspection deficiency
    B
  • Bloomfield
    1.27 ppb
    24 health-based violations since 2015
    B
⚠ Needs Attention
  • City of Orange
    Not detected
    PFAS above the limit at 2 of 3 sampling points
    D
  • West Caldwell
    Not detected
    PFAS above the limit at 1 of 1 sampling points
    D
  • Livingston
    4.18 ppb
    PFAS above the limit at 9 of 9 sampling points
    C
  • Newark
    Not detected
    PFAS above the limit at 1 of 2 sampling points
    C
  • Silver Lake
    Not detected
    PFAS above the limit at 1 of 2 sampling points
    C
County Lead Level — Median 2.55 ppb
Based on most recent 90th percentile lead tests across all reporting systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
County median: 2.55 ppb — 17% of the federal action level
Systems by Lead Level
Under 5 ppb
14
No Data
9

All Cities in Essex County

Newark Not detected C
East Orange 2.65 ppb C
Irvington 3.00 ppb B
Bloomfield 1.27 ppb B
West Orange 3.00 ppb B
Montclair Not detected A
City of Orange Not detected D
Belleville 1.65 ppb B
Livingston 4.18 ppb C
Nutley 0.55 ppb B
Maplewood 3.00 ppb B
Millburn 3.00 ppb B
South Orange Village 2.00 ppb B
Verona Not detected B
Cedar Grove Not detected B
West Caldwell Not detected D
Caldwell 1.92 ppb B
Fairfield Not detected C
Glen Ridge Not detected B
Roseland 1.29 ppb B
North Caldwell 2.87 ppb B
Silver Lake Not detected C
Essex Fells 2.44 ppb B
Showing 23 cities
No active violations Active violations

About Essex County Drinking Water

Essex County is served by 19 water systems covering 23 communities. No community here has an open violation on record.

Of the communities reporting lead results, 14 recorded a detection, with a median of 2.55 ppb — 17% of the federal action level. 9 reported none detected, which means below the laboratory limit rather than an absence of lead.

14 of 23 communities have PFAS above the limits EPA set in 2024, measured as a running annual average at each sampling point. State inspectors recorded significant deficiencies at 1 of them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Essex County tap water safe to drink?▼
No community in Essex County has an open violation on record. 14 of 23 have PFAS above the federal limit, which is the main open concern.
What is the lead level in Essex County?▼
Among communities with a detection the median is 2.55 ppb, 17% of the 15 ppb action level. 9 reported none detected and 0 reported no result.
How many water systems serve Essex County?▼
19 community water systems serve 23 communities here.
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