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City of Orange, NJ Tap Water Quality 2026

Water quality report for City of Orange, NJ — PFAS, lead and copper results, violation history and state inspection findings from EPA SDWIS.

A look at City of Orange's drinking water using EPA enforcement records: violations, lead and copper results, PFAS sampling and state inspection findings.

Main Utility: Orange Water Dept PWSID: NJ0717001 Updated: 2026 Q2
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PFAS above the federal limit at 2 of 3 sampling points

Lead was not detected and no violations are open. However, PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 2 of 3 sampling points, running as high as 3.25 times the limit.

D

City of Orange earns a D for water quality

Graded on violations, lead, and PFAS, with state inspection findings.

Lead: not detected
PFAS above the federal limit at 2 of 3 sampling points
12 violations since 2015, 1 health-based
No violations currently open
City of Orange's lead level vs. all New Jersey community water systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
Lead level: Not detected — 0% of the federal action level
✓ Lower lead than % of New Jersey utilities
Population Served
34260
~4597 connections
Water Source
Surface water
Purchased from another system — SDWIS source code SWP
Active Violations
0
12 since 2015, all resolved

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)
90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system
0% of EPA action level
Not detected
Action level: 15 ppb
Copper (Cu)
90th percentile of tap samples. SDWIS reports a copper figure only when a system exceeds the action level, so any value here is an exceedance.
118.5% of EPA action level
1,540 ppb
Action level: 1,300 ppb
Lead was not detected at the 90th percentile — the result fell below the laboratory detection limit. That is not the same as an absence of lead in every tap, and older homes with lead service lines can still show higher readings. Copper reached the action level here; a copper figure appears in SDWIS only when a system triggers it.

Contaminant Violations (2015–Present)

ContaminantTypeMeasuredLimitPeriodStatus
Surface Water Treatment Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2025 Archived
Chlorine MONITORING AND REPORTING — 4.0 mg/L 2025 Archived
Lead and Copper Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — TT 2025 Unaddressed
Revised Total Coliform Rule REPORTING FAILURE — — 2024 Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule MONITORING FAILURE — — 2024 Resolved
Lead and Copper Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — TT 2024 Unaddressed
TTHM MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.080 mg/L 2023 Archived
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.060 mg/L 2023 Archived
Lead and Copper Rule TREATMENT TECHNIQUE — TT 2021 Resolved
Lead and Copper Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — TT 2020 Resolved
Surface Water Treatment Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2019 Resolved
Chlorine MONITORING AND REPORTING — 4.0 mg/L 2019 Resolved
Understanding violation types MCL violations mean a contaminant exceeded the federal maximum limit — the most serious type.
TT (Treatment Technique) violations mean required treatment procedures weren't followed, but don't necessarily mean contamination occurred.

Violation History

12 violations are on record since 2015, of which 1 were health-based. All have been resolved and none remain open.

About the Main Water System

Utility Orange Water Dept
PWSID NJ0717001
Water source Surface water — Purchased from another system — SDWIS source code SWP
Population served 34,260
Service connections 4,597
Systems serving this area 4
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is City of Orange tap water safe to drink? ▼
It meets most federal standards, but PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 2 of 3 sampling points. No violations are currently open.
Does City of Orange water have PFAS? ▼
Yes. PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 2 of 3 sampling points, running as high as 3.25 times the limit. Limits are enforced on a running annual average at each sampling point, not on a single sample.
Who supplies water to City of Orange? ▼
Orange Water Dept (PWSID NJ0717001), one of 4 systems serving this area. Surface water. Purchased from another system — SDWIS source code SWP
When was this system last inspected? ▼
It was last inspected on 2024-09-12. No significant deficiencies were recorded.

What Should City of Orange Residents Do?

1
Consider a reverse-osmosis filter
Reverse osmosis removes more than 95% of PFAS. Standard carbon pitchers do not.
2
Check for a lead service line
Lead reaches tap water mainly through service lines and household plumbing. Suppliers now publish an inventory identifying lead lines.
3
Flush before drinking
If water has sat in pipes more than six hours, run the cold tap for two minutes before drinking or cooking.

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