Why Is This Important?

Community water systems serve about 85% of New Jersey's residents, and are expected to comply with all current state and federal drinking water requirements for water quality. A water quality report is provided annually to customers by water suppliers, and drinking water quality is monitored by state certified water testing laboratories.

Definition

Percentage of community water systems in compliance with all current state and federal drinking water requirements for water quality.

Data Source

How the Measure is Calculated

How Are We Doing?

Between 2005 and 2023, the compliance rates for microbiological, chemical, and radiological standards in New Jersey's community water systems remained very high. In 2010, new requirements for advanced treatment on water systems serving groundwater, known as the Groundwater Rule, went into effect, as did the requirement for mandatory electronic reporting of test results.

What Is Being Done?

The Safe Drinking Water Act, passed in 1974, requires that actions be taken to protect drinking water and its sources. The act authorized the US EPA to set national health-based standards for drinking water which could then be made more stringent by individual states. The Safe Drinking Water Act applies to all public drinking water systems in the United States.

Available Services

If your drinking water comes from a public water system:[[br]] Your water supplier is required by law to monitor the system regularly and to meet state and federal standards. For community water systems, your water supplier is required to provide all customers with a Consumer Confidence Report that summarizes test results. You can also get test results for your water system by contacting your water supplier or the NJDEP Bureau of Safe Drinking Water Implementation at (609) 292-5550. If your drinking water comes from a private well:[[br]] You are responsible for testing. The NJDEP recommends that you use a laboratory that is NJDEP-certified. You can call NJDEP Office of Quality Assurance at (609) 292-3950 for information on laboratories certified to test drinking water. Testing is required during the sale of residential real estate when a well is the source of water. For more information, contact the NJDEP Private Well Testing Program, [https://dep.nj.gov/privatewells/pwta/] or call (866) 479-8378.

More Resources

The NJDEP Bureau of Safe Drinking Water and Bureau of Water System Engineering are responsible for ensuring that public water systems in New Jersey satisfy federal and state drinking water standards and other provisions of the Federal and State Safe Drinking Water Acts. [http://www.nj.gov/dep/watersupply/] List of NJ certified water testing laboratories: [https://www.nj.gov/dep/enforcement/oqa/certlabs.htm]

Health Program Information

For concerns regarding Federal and State drinking water regulations and public water supply monitoring results, contact the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Safe Drinking Water Implementation or Bureau of Safe Drinking Water Technical Assistance, (609) 292-5550. To inquire about NJ certified laboratories for testing of drinking water, contact the Office of Quality Assurance at (609) 292-3950. For information on Federal drinking water regulations and other water safety issues, contact the United States Environmental Protection Agency Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791. Contact your Public Water Utility for public drinking water regulations and monitoring results.