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New Brunswick, NJ Tap Water Quality 2026

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

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

Main Utility: New Brunswick W Dept PWSID: NJ1214001 Updated: 2026 Q2
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PFAS above the federal limit

Lead is 1.78 ppb, 12% of the action level and no violations are open. However, PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 1 sampling points, running as high as 1.57 times the limit.

C

New Brunswick earns a C for water quality

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

Lead: 1.78 ppb — 12% of the federal action level
PFAS above the federal limit at 1 of 1 sampling points
43 violations since 2015, 3 health-based
No violations currently open
New Brunswick's lead level vs. all New Jersey community water systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
Lead level: 1.78 ppb — 12% of the federal action level
✓ Lower lead than 68% of New Jersey utilities
Population Served
55133
~8500 connections
Water Source
Surface water
Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
Active Violations
0
43 since 2015, all resolved

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)
90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system
12% of EPA action level
1.78 ppb
Action level: 15 ppb
The 90th-percentile lead result is 1.78 ppb, 12% of the 15 ppb federal action level. The action level is a treatment trigger, not a legal maximum, and it is measured across sampled taps rather than at any single home.

Contaminant Violations (2015–Present)

ContaminantTypeMeasuredLimitPeriodStatus
Surface Water Treatment Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2025 Archived
Surface Water Treatment Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2025 Archived
Lead and Copper Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — TT 2025 Archived
2,4-D MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.07 mg/L 2025 Archived
1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.0002 mg/L 2025 Archived
ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.00005 mg/L 2025 Archived
Lead and Copper Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — TT 2025 Archived
Lead and Copper Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — TT 2024 Archived
2,4-D MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.07 mg/L 2023 Resolved
1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.0002 mg/L 2023 Resolved
ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.00005 mg/L 2023 Resolved
1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.0002 mg/L 2023 Resolved
ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.00005 mg/L 2023 Resolved
2,4-D MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.07 mg/L 2023 Resolved
Consumer Confidence Rule OTHER — — 2022 Resolved
1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.0002 mg/L 2022 Resolved
ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.00005 mg/L 2022 Resolved
Lead and Copper Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — TT 2021 Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule REPORTING FAILURE — — 2021 Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule MONITORING FAILURE — — 2021 Resolved
Surface Water Treatment Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2021 Resolved
Chlorine MONITORING AND REPORTING — 4.0 mg/L 2021 Resolved
Consumer Confidence Rule OTHER — — 2020 Resolved
ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.00005 mg/L 2020 Resolved
1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.0002 mg/L 2020 Resolved
Lead and Copper Rule TREATMENT TECHNIQUE — TT 2020 Resolved
ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.00005 mg/L 2020 Resolved
1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.0002 mg/L 2020 Resolved
Lead and Copper Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — TT 2019 Resolved
Nitrate MONITORING AND REPORTING — 10 mg/L 2019 Resolved
Surface Water Treatment Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2017 Resolved
Surface Water Treatment Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2017 Resolved
Lead and Copper Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — TT 2017 Resolved
Lead and Copper Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — TT 2017 Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule REPORTING FAILURE — — 2017 Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule MONITORING FAILURE — — 2017 Resolved
Surface Water Treatment Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2017 Resolved
Chlorine MONITORING AND REPORTING — 4.0 mg/L 2017 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.081 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2016 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.089 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2016 Resolved
Lead and Copper Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — TT 2016 Resolved
Turbidity MONITORING AND REPORTING — TT 2015 Resolved
Cryptosporidium MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2015 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

43 violations are on record since 2015, of which 3 were health-based. All have been resolved and none remain open.

About the Main Water System

Utility New Brunswick W Dept
PWSID NJ1214001
Water source Surface water — Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
Population served 55,133
Service connections 8,500
Systems serving this area 4
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is New Brunswick tap water safe to drink? ▼
It meets most federal standards, but PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 1 sampling points. No violations are currently open. Lead is 1.78 ppb, 12% of the action level.
Does New Brunswick water have PFAS? ▼
Yes. PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 1 sampling points, running as high as 1.57 times the limit. Limits are enforced on a running annual average at each sampling point, not on a single sample.
Who supplies water to New Brunswick? ▼
New Brunswick W Dept (PWSID NJ1214001), one of 4 systems serving this area. Surface water. Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
When was this system last inspected? ▼
It was last inspected on 2023-12-08. No significant deficiencies were recorded.

What Should New Brunswick 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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