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Ocean County, NJ Water Quality

Water quality data for 29 public water systems serving Ocean County, New Jersey — based on EPA SDWIS enforcement records, lead testing results, and health-based violation history.

📅 2026 Report 🔄 Data updated 2026 Q2 📍 29 water systems · 34 cities
✅
Excellent — All Systems Performing Well

Water quality across the county is outstanding with minimal violations and very low lead levels.

A

Ocean County Earns a A

Ocean County: 34 communities across 29 water systems. 100.0% have no open violations.

  • Median lead where detected: 1.33 ppb
  • 24 communities with a lead detection, 10 reporting none detected
  • 6 communities with PFAS above the federal limit
  • 2 with significant inspection deficiencies
  • 100.0% of communities have no open violations
1.33 ppb
Median Lead Level
County-wide, 90th percentile
29
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
  • Brick
    0.94 ppb
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    A
  • Stafford
    Not detected
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    A
  • Barnegat
    0.70 ppb
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    A
  • Little Egg Harbor
    Not detected
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    A
  • Ocean Acres
    Not detected
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    A
⚠ Needs Attention
  • Lakewood
    2.00 ppb
    PFAS above the limit at 4 of 15 sampling points
    C
  • Bay Head
    2.00 ppb
    PFAS above the limit at 4 of 15 sampling points
    C
  • Mantoloking
    2.00 ppb
    PFAS above the limit at 4 of 15 sampling points
    C
  • Toms River
    0.82 ppb
    PFAS above the limit at 1 of 7 sampling points
    B
  • Berkeley
    0.82 ppb
    PFAS above the limit at 1 of 7 sampling points
    B
County Lead Level — Median 1.33 ppb
Based on most recent 90th percentile lead tests across all reporting systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
County median: 1.33 ppb — 8.9% of the federal action level
Systems by Lead Level
Under 5 ppb
23
10 – 15 ppb
1
No Data
10

All Cities in Ocean County

Lakewood 2.00 ppb C
Toms River 0.82 ppb B
Brick 0.94 ppb A
Jackson 2.57 ppb B
Lacey Not detected A
Stafford Not detected A
Manchester 0.40 ppb A
Barnegat 0.70 ppb A
Berkeley 0.82 ppb B
Point Pleasant 1.78 ppb A
Little Egg Harbor Not detected A
Ocean Acres Not detected A
Beachwood 0.91 ppb A
Ocean Not detected A
Point Pleasant Beach 12.80 ppb B
South Toms River 0.82 ppb B
Tuckerton 3.61 ppb A
Lakehurst 0.76 ppb B
Seaside Heights 1.63 ppb A
Plumsted Not detected B
Long Beach 1.20 ppb A
Pine Beach Not detected B
Ocean Gate Not detected B
Lavallette 1.19 ppb A
Island Heights 3.29 ppb B
Seaside Park 1.89 ppb A
Surf City Not detected A
Ship Bottom Not detected A
Beach Haven 3.00 ppb A
Bay Head 2.00 ppb C
Barnegat Light 1.10 ppb A
Harvey Cedars 1.46 ppb A
Mantoloking 2.00 ppb C
Eagleswood 0.60 ppb B
Showing 34 cities
No active violations Active violations

About Ocean County Drinking Water

Ocean County is served by 29 water systems covering 34 communities. No community here has an open violation on record.

Of the communities reporting lead results, 24 recorded a detection, with a median of 1.33 ppb — 9% of the federal action level. 10 reported none detected, which means below the laboratory limit rather than an absence of lead.

6 of 34 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 2 of them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ocean County tap water safe to drink?▼
No community in Ocean County has an open violation on record. 6 of 34 have PFAS above the federal limit, which is the main open concern.
What is the lead level in Ocean County?▼
Among communities with a detection the median is 1.33 ppb, 9% of the 15 ppb action level. 10 reported none detected and 0 reported no result.
How many water systems serve Ocean County?▼
29 community water systems serve 34 communities here.
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