Table of Contents
Can You Drink Tap Water in Jersey City?
Yes, Jersey City's tap water is generally considered safe to drink as Jersey City has no active health based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) that we are aware of. Other factors such as lead piping in a home, or low levels of pollutants on immunocompromised individuals, should also be considered, however. To find more recent info we might have, you can check out our boil water notice page, the city's water provider website, or Jersey City's local Twitter account.
According the EPA’s ECHO database, from April 30, 2019 to June 30, 2022, Jersey City's water utility, Jersey City Mua, had 1 health-based violations and 2 non-health-based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. For more details on the violations, please see our violation history section below. The last violation for Jersey City was resolved on Aug. 31, 2020. This assessment is based on the Jersey City Mua water system, other water systems in the city may have different results.
While tap water that meets the EPA health guidelines generally won’t make you sick to your stomach, it can still contain regulated and unregulated contaminants present in trace amounts that could potentially cause health issues over the long-run. These trace contaminants may also impact immunocompromised and vulnerable individuals.
The EPA is reviewing if it’s current regulations around pollutant levels in tap water are strict enough, and the health dangers posed by unregulated pollutants, like PFAS.
Water Quality Report for Jersey City Tap Water
The most recent publicly available numbers for measured contaminant levels in Jersey City tap water are in its 2020 Water Quality Report. As you can see, there are levels which the EPA considers to be acceptable, but being below the maximum allowable level doesn’t necessarily mean the water is healthy.
Lead in tap water, for example, is currently allowed at up to 15ppb by the EPA, but it has set the ideal goal for lead at zero. This highlights how meeting EPA standards doesn’t necessarily mean local tap water is healthy.
EPA regulations continue to change as it evaluates the long term impacts of chemicals and updates drinking water acceptable levels. The rules around arsenic, as well as, lead and copper are currently being re-evaluated.
There are also a number of "emerging" contaminants that are not currently. For example, PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), for which the EPA has issued a health advisory. PFAS are called "forever chemicals" since they tend not to break down in the environment or the human body and can accumulate over time.
We recommend looking at the contaminants present in Jersey City's water quality reports, or getting your home's tap water tested to see if you should be filtering your water.
Jersey City Tap Water Safe Drinking Water Act Violation History - Prior 10 Years
Below is a ten year history of violations for the water system named Jersey City Mua for Jersey City in New Jersey. For more details please see the "What do these Violations Mean?" section below.
For the compliance period beginning July 1, 2021, Jersey City had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Other Violation, more specifically, the violation code was Consumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report which falls into the Other rule code group, and the Consumer Confidence Rule rule code family for the following contaminant code: Consumer Confidence Rule.
For the compliance period beginning Aug. 13, 2020, Jersey City had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Other Violation, more specifically, the violation code was Public Notification Violation for NPDWR Violation which falls into the Other rule code group, and the Public Notice Rule rule code family for the following contaminant code: Public Notice.
From Aug. 1, 2020 to Aug. 31, 2020, Jersey City had 1 health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, more specifically, the violation code was Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, E. coli (RTCR) which falls into the Microbials rule code group, and the Total Coliform Rules rule code family for the following contaminant code: Revised Total Coliform Rule.
For the compliance period beginning Aug. 11, 2018, Jersey City had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Reporting Violation, more specifically, the violation code was Report Sample Result/Fail Monitor (RTCR) which falls into the Microbials rule code group, and the Total Coliform Rules rule code family for the following contaminant code: Revised Total Coliform Rule.
From July 1, 2018 to July 31, 2018, Jersey City had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Monitoring Violation, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring, Routine (RTCR) which falls into the Microbials rule code group, and the Total Coliform Rules rule code family for the following contaminant code: Revised Total Coliform Rule.
From July 1, 2017 to Dec. 31, 2017, Jersey City had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Water Quality Parameter M/R which falls into the Chemicals rule code group, and the Lead and Copper Rule rule code family for the following contaminant code: Lead and Copper Rule.
From July 1, 2015 to July 31, 2015, Jersey City had 1 health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, more specifically, the violation code was Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) which falls into the Microbials rule code group, and the Total Coliform Rules rule code family for the following contaminant code: Coliform (TCR).
From April 1, 2015 to April 30, 2015, Jersey City had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring, Source Water (LT2) which falls into the Microbials rule code group, and the Surface Water Treatment Rules rule code family for the following contaminant code: Cryptosporidium.
Is there Lead in Jersey City Water?
Based on the EPA’s ECHO Database, 90% of the samples taken from the Jersey City water system, Jersey City Mua, between sample start date and sample end date, were at or below, 0.0045 mg/L of lead in Jersey City water. This is 30.0% of the 0.015 mg/L action level. This means 10% of the samples taken from Jersey City contained more lead.
While Jersey City water testing may have found 0.0045 mg/L of lead in its water, that does not mean your water source has the same amount. The amount of lead in water in a city can vary greatly from neighborhood to neighborhood, or even building to building. Many buildings, particularly older ones, have lead pipes or service lines which can be a source of contamination. To find out if your home has lead, we recommend getting you water tested.
No amount of lead in water is healthy, only less dangerous. As lead accumulates in our bodies over time, even exposure to relatively small amounts can have negative health effects. For more information, please check out our Lead FAQ page.
Are there PFAS in Jersey City Tap Water?
Currently, testing tap water for PFAS isn’t mandated on a national level. We do have a list of military bases where there have been suspected or confirmed leaks. There appears to be at least one military base - Franklin NG Site - near Jersey City with suspected leaks.
With many potential sources of PFAS in tap water across the US, the best information we currently have about which cities have PFAS in their water is this ewg map, which you can check to see if Jersey City has been evaluated for yet.
Our stance is better safe than sorry, and that it makes sense to try to purify the tap water just in case.
Jersey City SDWA Violation History Table - Prior 10 Years
Compliance Period | Status | Health-Based? | Category Code | Code | Rule Code | Contaminant Code | Rule Group Code | Rule Family Code |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
07/01/2021 - | Resolved | No | Other Violation (Other) | Consumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report (71) | Consumer Confidence Rule (420) | Consumer Confidence Rule (7000) | Other (400) | Consumer Confidence Rule (420) |
08/13/2020 - | Resolved | No | Other Violation (Other) | Public Notification Violation for NPDWR Violation (75) | Public Notice Rule (410) | Public Notice (7500) | Other (400) | Public Notice Rule (410) |
08/01/2020 - 08/31/2020 | Resolved | Yes | Maximum Contaminant Level Violation (MCL) | Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, E. coli (RTCR) (1A) | Revised Total Coliform Rule (111) | Revised Total Coliform Rule (8000) | Microbials (100) | Total Coliform Rules (110) |
08/11/2018 - | Resolved | No | Reporting Violation (RPT) | Report Sample Result/Fail Monitor (RTCR) (4B) | Revised Total Coliform Rule (111) | Revised Total Coliform Rule (8000) | Microbials (100) | Total Coliform Rules (110) |
07/01/2018 - 07/31/2018 | Resolved | No | Monitoring Violation (MON) | Monitoring, Routine (RTCR) (3A) | Revised Total Coliform Rule (111) | Revised Total Coliform Rule (8000) | Microbials (100) | Total Coliform Rules (110) |
07/01/2017 - 12/31/2017 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Water Quality Parameter M/R (53) | Lead and Copper Rule (350) | Lead and Copper Rule (5000) | Chemicals (300) | Lead and Copper Rule (350) |
07/01/2015 - 07/31/2015 | Resolved | Yes | Maximum Contaminant Level Violation (MCL) | Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) (22) | Total Coliform Rule (110) | Coliform (TCR) (3100) | Microbials (100) | Total Coliform Rules (110) |
04/01/2015 - 04/30/2015 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Source Water (LT2) (32) | Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (123) | Cryptosporidium (3015) | Microbials (100) | Surface Water Treatment Rules (120) |
What do these Violations Mean?
Safe Drinking Water Act Violations categories split into two groups, health based, and non-health based. Generally, health based violations are more serious, though non-health based violations can also be cause for concern.
Health Based Violations
- Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) - maximum allowed contaminant level was exceeded.
- Maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDLs) - maximum allowed disinfectant level was exceeded.
- Other violations (Other) - the exact required process to reduce the amounts of contaminants in drinking water was not followed.
Non-Health Based Violations
- Monitoring and reporting violations (MR, MON) - failure to conduct the required regular monitoring of drinking water quality, and/or to submit monitoring results on time.
- Public notice violations (Other) - failure to immediately alert consumers if there is a serious problem with their drinking water that may pose a risk to public health.
- Other violations (Other) - miscellaneous violations, such as failure to issue annual consumer confidence reports or maintain required records.
SDWA Table Key
Field | Description |
---|---|
Compliance Period | Dates of the compliance period. |
Status |
Current status of the violation.
|
Health-Based? | Whether the violation is health based. |
Category Code |
The category of violation that is reported.
|
Code | A full description of violation codes can be accessed in the SDWA_REF_CODE_VALUES (CSV) table. |
Contaminant Code | A code value that represents a contaminant for which a public water system has incurred a violation of a primary drinking water regulation. |
Rule Code |
Code for a National Drinking Water rule.
|
Rule Group Code |
Code that uniquely identifies a rule group.
|
Rule Family Code |
Code for rule family.
|
For more clarification please visit the EPA's data dictionary.
Jersey City Water - Frequently Asked Questions
By Mail: | 94 WASHINGTON STREET HOBOKEN, NJ, 07030 |
Existing customers can login to their Jersey City Mua account to pay their Jersey City water bill by clicking here.
If you want to pay your Jersey City Mua bill online and haven't made an account yet, you can create an account online. Please click here to create your account to pay your Jersey City water bill.
If you don't want to make an account, or can't remember your account, you can make a one-time payment towards your Jersey City water bill without creating an account using a one time payment portal with your account number and credit or debit card. Click here to make a one time payment.
Moving to a new house or apartment in Jersey City means you will often need to put the water in your name with Jersey City Mua. In order to put the water in your name, please click the link to the start service form below. Start service requests for water bills typically take two business days.
Leaving your house or apartment in Jersey City means you will likely need to take your name off of the water bill with Jersey City Mua. In order to take your name off the water bill, please click the link to the stop service form below. Stop service for water bills requests typically take two business days.
The estimated price of bottled water
$1.67 in USD (1.5-liter)
USER SUBMITTED RATINGS
- Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility
- Water Pollution
- Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility
- Water Quality
The above data is comprised of subjective, user submitted opinions about the water quality and pollution in Jersey City, measured on a scale from 0% (lowest) to 100% (highest).
Related FAQS
Jersey City Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report)
The EPA mandates that towns and cities consistently monitor and test their tap water. They must report their findings in an annual Consumer Confidence Report. Below is the most recent water quality report from Jersey City's Water. If you would like to see the original version of the report, please click here.
your
water quality information
consumer confidence report
issued june 2019
SUEZ | Jersey City Operations
PWSID # NJ0906001
This report contains important information about your drinking water. Este informe contiene información muy importante sobre su agua potable. Tradúzcalo ó hable con alguien que lo entienda bien.
our commitment to you
John Hroncich
Project Manager, Jersey City Operations
Dear Customer,
In 2018, the Jersey City Municipal Utility Authority (JCMUA) extended their successful
We regularly test water samples to be sure that your water meets the safety standards. All the test results are on file with the NJDEP, the agency that monitors and regulates drinking water quality in our state. The EPA and the NJDEP establish these regulations. They also require water suppliers to provide a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) to customers on an annual basis. This CCR contains important information about your drinking water. Please read it carefully and feel free to call us at 800.575.4433 if you have any questions.
In addition, you can write to us at 69 DeVoe Place, Hackensack, NJ 07601. You can also call the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800.426.4791 with
Sincerely,
John Hroncich
Project Manager, Jersey City Operations
2 | consumer confidence report
about your water supply
Your water comes from the Jersey City Reservoir at Boonton, as well as the Split Rock Reservoir in Rockaway Township. The source for this water is a 120 square mile watershed that drains into these two reservoirs. Combined, these two reservoirs can store 11.3 billion gallons of water.
The Jersey City Water Treatment Plant purifies about 50 million gallons of water a day on average and can treat up to 80 million gallons a day during peak periods. Purified water moves by gravity through 23 miles of aqueduct and 300 miles of water mains. From time to time you may receive water from the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission, the Passaic Valley Water Commission or the City of Newark when routine maintenance is performed on the plant, aqueduct and mains. We strive to provide our customers with a safe, sure supply of water 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
about the treatment process
We strive to provide you with drinking water that meets or surpasses all federal and state standards. Your water is purified at the Jersey City Water Treatment Plant in Boonton.
We use coagulants and filter the water to remove impurities and microscopic particles. A small amount of chlorine is then added to disinfect the water. Finally, we apply corrosion control chemicals to reduce the chance of lead and copper dissolving in the water from household plumbing.
To further ensure the safety of your water, we monitor it before, during and after the treatment process. For example, we routinely test the water at the rivers, lakes, and streams that supply drinking water. We also sample and test treated water to be sure that it remains pure as it travels to your home.
lead and your drinking water
If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. Jersey City is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking and cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water hotline or at http:www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.
3
drinking water quality
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno- compromised persons, such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infections by cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800.426.4791. The table below shows how the quality of your drinking water in 2018 compared to the standards set by the NJDEP.
primary standards - directly related to the safety of drinking water.
Inorganic Chemicals |
Units |
MCLG |
MCL |
Highest |
Range of |
Violation |
Likely Source |
Result* |
Results** |
||||||
Barium |
ppm |
2 |
2 |
0.0188 |
NA |
No |
Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries; erosion |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
of natural deposits |
Chromium (total) |
ppb |
100 |
100 |
0.0784 |
NA |
No |
Discharge from steel and pulp mills; erosion of natural deposits |
Nickel |
ppm |
NA |
monitor |
0.0929 |
NA |
No |
Erosion of natural deposits |
Nitrate as N |
ppm |
10 |
10 |
0.41 |
0.19 - 0.41 |
No |
Runoff from fertilizer usage; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
erosion of natural deposits |
Total Nitrate and Nitrite |
ppm |
10 |
10 |
0.41 |
0.19 - 0.41 |
No |
Runoff from fertilizer usage; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
erosion of natural deposits |
Disinfection & |
Units |
MCLG |
MCL |
Highest |
Range of |
Violation |
Likely Source |
Disinfection |
Result LRAA Results** |
||||||
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) |
ppb |
NA |
80 |
65.9 |
27.1 - 102.6 |
No |
|
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
ppb |
NA |
60 |
33.0 |
16.4 - 53.4 |
No |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Disinfectant Residual |
Units |
MRDLG |
MRDL |
Highest |
Range of |
Violation |
Likely Source |
Result RAA |
Results** |
||||||
Chlorine as Cl2 |
ppm |
4 |
4 |
0.91 |
0.18 - 1.70 |
No |
Water additive to control microbes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lead and Copper |
Units |
MCLG |
AL |
90th |
Samples |
Violation |
Likely Source |
Percentile |
>AL |
||||||
Lead |
ppb |
0 |
15 |
6.7 |
3 |
No |
Lead service lines, corrosion of household plumbing including fittings |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and fixtures; erosion of natural deposits |
Copper |
ppm |
1.3 |
1.3 |
0.114 |
0 |
No |
Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lead and Copper - |
Units |
|
Required |
|
Minimum Level |
|
|
Water Quality Parameters |
|
Minimum Level |
Detected |
|
|
||
Treatment Plant |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
pH |
SU |
|
7.0 |
|
7.0 |
|
|
Alkalinity |
mg/L as CaCO3 |
NA |
|
NA |
|
|
|
Orthophosphate |
mg/L as Total P |
0.1 |
|
0.64 |
|
|
|
Distribution System |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
pH |
SU |
|
7.0 |
|
7.04 |
|
|
Alkalinity |
mg/L as CaCO3 |
NA |
|
NA |
|
|
|
Orthophosphate |
mg/L as Total P |
0.1 |
|
0.12 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Radionuclides (2014) |
Units |
MCLG |
MCL |
Highest |
Range of |
Violation |
Likely Source |
Result RAA |
Results** |
||||||
Combined Radium 226+228 |
pCi/L |
0 |
5 |
0.14 |
NA - 0.14 |
No |
Erosion of natural deposits |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Surface Water/GWUDI Systems |
Units |
MCLG |
MCL |
Range of |
%>0.3 |
Violation |
Likely Source |
Detections |
|||||||
Turbidity |
NTU |
NA |
5%>0.3 |
0.08 - 0.24 |
0.0% |
No |
Soil runoff |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Microbiological |
Units |
MCLG |
MCL |
Min |
Max |
Violation |
Likely Source |
Total Coliforms |
% positive |
0 |
5% |
0% |
3% |
Yes |
Naturally present in the environment |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Boonton WTP POE (TP001002) |
|
MCLG |
MCL |
Lowest |
Range of Ratio |
Violation |
|
|
Ratio (RAA) |
(Monthly Ratio) |
|
||||
TOC Removal Ratio (RAA) |
|
NA |
RAA>=1.0 |
1.05 |
1.00 - 1.20 |
No |
|
*Highest results are based upon the highest single sample.
**The Range of Results represent the lowest and highest detection during the monitoring year. RAA = Running Annual Average
LRAA = Locational Running Annual Average is the yearly average of all the results at each specific sampling site in the distribution system. POE = Point of Entry
4 | consumer confidence report
secondary standards - water quality parameters related to the aesthetic quality of drinking water.
Substance |
Units |
NJ RUL |
Min |
Max |
RUL |
Likely Source |
Exceeded? |
||||||
Alkalinity |
ppm |
NA |
33 |
78 |
No |
Natural mineral |
Aluminum |
ppb |
200 |
ND |
300 |
Yes |
Naturally occurring element |
Calcium |
ppm |
NA |
13.5 |
24.4 |
No |
Naturally occurring element |
Chloride |
ppm |
250 |
70 |
129 |
No |
Naturally occurring element |
Color |
CU |
10 |
ND |
3 |
No |
Naturally occurring organic matter |
Conductivity |
umhos |
NA |
308 |
561 |
No |
Naturally occurring element |
Corrosivity (2017) |
NA |
NA |
No |
Naturally occuring element road salt |
||
Hardness (as CaCO3) |
ppm |
250 |
60 |
97 |
No |
Naturally occurring element |
Iron |
ppb |
300 |
ND |
80 |
No |
Naturally occurring element, leaching from metal pipes |
Manganese |
ppb |
50 |
ND |
20 |
No |
Naturally occurring element, leaching from metal pipes |
pH |
ppm |
6.5 - 8.5 |
6.92 |
8.12 |
No |
Natural property of water |
Sodium** |
ppm |
50 |
36 |
71 |
Yes |
Naturally occurring element |
Sulfate |
ppm |
250 |
NA |
9.1 |
No |
Naturally occurring element |
Total Dissolved Solids |
ppm |
500 |
141 |
319 |
No |
Minerals and salts dissolved in the water |
Zinc |
ppm |
5 |
ND |
0.02 |
No |
Naturally occurring element |
Note on exceedences: Secondary standards are
- For healthy individuals, the sodium intake from water is not important because a much greater intake of sodium takes place from salt in the diet. However, sodium levels above the RUL may be of concern to individuals on a sodium restricted diet. Highest result is based on the Running Annual Average (RAA), due to multiple samples collected for sodium during 2018.
unregulated substances - for which the epa requires monitoring.
Unregulated contaminants are those for which the EPA has not established drinking water standards. The purpose of unregulated contaminant monitoring is to assist the EPA and DEP in determining the occurrence of unregulated contaminants in drinking water and whether regulation is warranted.
Substance (2015) |
Units |
MRL |
Min |
MAX |
Violation |
Likely Source |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chlorate |
ppb |
20 |
64 |
160 |
No |
Agricultural defoliant or desiccant; disinfection |
Chromium |
ppb |
0.2 |
ND |
0.31 |
No |
Naturally occurring element |
ppb |
0.03 |
ND |
0.09 |
No |
Naturally occurring element |
|
Strontium |
ppb |
0.3 |
87 |
100 |
No |
Naturally occurring element |
Vanadium |
ppb |
0.2 |
ND |
0.22 |
No |
Naturally occurring element |
Additional information about unregulated contaminants can be found at the following link, courtesy of American Water Works Association:
Monitoring Violation
We are required to monitor your drinking water for specific contaminants on a regular basis. Results of regular monitoring are an indicator of whether or not your drinking water meets health standards. During July of 2018, we did not complete all monitoring for coliforms, and therefore cannot be sure of the quality of your drinking water during that time. We do know that the water was safe. Monitoring compliance was restored in the following month August 2018. Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
Explanation: On August 1, 2018, the SUEZ Jersey City project was notified by the SUEZ Haworth Laboratory that the distribution system routine coliform bacteria samples collected during the month of July numbered 146, which is four short of the required 150 routine samples. The NJDEP was advised of the sampling deficiency and confirmed that the short number of samples is a monitoring violation.
Steps Taken to Correct Violation: Steps were taken by SUEZ to correct the process and validate sample collection process each day
and adjust schedule when samples are not collected as initially scheduled. This will include manual verification and comparison with lab provided updates.
Health Effects: This violation had no health effects to the general population. An alternate source of water was not necessary. Customers need not take any actions with regard to this event.
definitions
Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow. CU: Color unit.
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of disinfectant is necessary for control
of microbial contaminants.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG): The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectant to control microbial contamination.
NA: Not applicable.
ND: Not detected.
NJ RUL: New Jersey Recommended Upper Limit
NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity Unit.
ppb Parts per billion: The equivalent of one second in 32 years.
ppm Parts per million: The equivalent of one second in 12 days
pCi/L Picocuries per liter: The equivalent of one second in 32 million years.
Primary Standards: Federal drinking water regulations for substances that are
Secondary Standards: Federal drinking water measurements for substances that do not have an impact on health. These reflect aesthetic qualities such as taste, odor and appearance. Secondary standards are recommendations, not mandates.
TON: Threshold Odor Number.
Treatment Technique (TT): A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
5
source water assessment program
Under the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act, all states were required to establish a Source Water Assessment Program (SWAP). New Jersey’s SWAP Plan incorporates the following four fundamental steps:
- Determine the source water assessment area of each ground and surface water source of public drinking water.
- Inventory the potential contamination sources within the source water assessment area.
- Determine the public water system source’s susceptibility to regulated contaminants. It is important to note, if a drinking water source’s susceptibility is high, it does not necessarily mean the drinking water is contaminated. The rating reflects the potential for contamination of source water, not the existence of contamination.
- Incorporate public education and participation.
In 2004, source water assessment reports were completed by NJDEP for all Community and Noncommunity Water Systems in New Jersey. The source water assessment reports and supporting documentation are available at http://www.state.nj.us/dep/swap/index.html or by contacting the NJDEP’s Bureau of Safe Drinking Water at 609.292.5550.
6 | consumer confidence report
Supplement Source of Supply Data
During 2018 the JCMUA and SUEZ performed emergency repairs during which time interconnections with Passaic Valley Water Commission and Newark were opened to maintain an adequate supply, pressure and water quality.
During years when maintenance is not being performed Jersey City has sufficient source of supply from the Boonton Reservoir and Plant to provide water supply for Jersey City and Hoboken. Jersey City also sells water to Parsippany and Montville.
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PRIMARY STANDARDS - Directly related to the safety of drinking water |
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INORGANIC CHEMICALS |
Units |
MCLG |
MCL |
PVWC |
Newark |
Violation |
Major Sources in Drinking Water |
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Results |
Results |
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Arsenic |
ppb |
0 |
5 |
- |
< 0.5 |
No |
Erosion of natural deposits; runoff from orchards; runoff from |
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glass and electronics production wastes |
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Barium |
ppm |
2 |
2 |
< 0 .10 |
0.008 |
No |
Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries; |
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erosion of natural deposits |
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Fluoride |
ppm |
4 |
4 |
0.008 |
< 0.1 |
No |
Erosion of natural deposits; water additive which promotes |
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strong teeth; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories |
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Mercury (inorganic) |
ppb |
2 |
2 |
- |
< 0.2 |
No |
Erosion of natural deposits; discharge from refineries and |
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factories; runoff from landfills: runoff from cropland |
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Nickel |
ppm |
NA |
NA |
0.00239 |
- |
No |
Erosion of Natural Deposits; Discharge from refineries and |
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factories; Runoff from landfills: Runoff from cropland |
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Nitrate as N |
ppm |
10 |
10 |
3.26 |
<.01 |
No |
Runoff from fertilizer usage; leaching from septic tanks, |
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sewage; erosion of natural deposits |
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Selenium |
ppb |
50 |
50 |
< 2 |
- |
No |
Discharge from petroleum and metal refineries; erosion of |
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natural deposits; discharge from mines |
DISINFECTION & |
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Units |
MCLG |
MCL |
PVWC |
Newark |
Violation |
Major Sources in Drinking Water |
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DISINFECTION |
Results |
Results |
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Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) |
ppb |
NA |
80 |
35.5 - 75.5 |
- |
No |
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Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
|
ppb |
NA |
60 |
17.33 - 26.05 |
- |
No |
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RADIONUCLIDES |
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Units |
MCLG |
MCL |
Level Found |
Level Found |
Violation |
Major Sources in Drinking Water |
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|
PVWC |
Newark |
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Combined Radium 226+228 |
pCi/L |
0 |
5 |
- |
1.5 |
No |
Erosion of natural deposits |
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TOC REMOVAL RATIO RAA |
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MCLG |
MCL |
PVWC |
Newark |
Violation |
Major Sources in Drinking Water |
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Results |
Results |
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TOC Removal |
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|
NA |
TT |
1.1 |
- |
No |
Naturally present in the environment |
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(1 - 1.3) |
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TURBIDITY |
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Units |
MCLG |
MCL |
Level Found |
Level Found |
Violation |
Major Sources in Drinking Water |
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PVWC |
Newark |
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Turbidity |
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NTU |
NA |
5%>0.3 |
- |
0.05 - 0.65 |
No |
Soil runoff |
SECONDARY STANDARDS |
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Units |
NJ RUL |
PVWC Result |
Newark Result |
Major Sources in Drinking Water |
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Alkalinity |
ppm |
NA |
|
70 |
25.3 |
A characteristic of water caused by carbonate and bicarbonates |
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Aluminum |
ppm |
0.2 |
|
0.07 |
0.083 |
Naturally occurring element |
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Chloride |
ppm |
250 |
194 |
39 |
Naturally occurring element |
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Color |
CU |
10 |
|
ND |
2 |
Naturally occurring organic matter |
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Foaming Agents |
ppm |
0.5 |
|
0.15 |
- |
Surfactants from detergents and cleansers |
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Hardness (as CaCO3) |
ppm |
250 |
186 |
51.4 |
Naturally occurring element |
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Iron |
ppm |
0.3 |
|
ND |
0.017 |
Naturally occurring element, leaching from metal pipes |
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Manganese |
ppm |
0.05 |
<0.05 |
0.017 |
Naturally occurring element, leaching from metal pipes |
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Odor |
TON |
3 |
|
10 |
1 |
Naturally occurring element |
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pH |
ppm |
6.5 |
- 8.5 |
8.4 |
7.02 |
Natural property of water |
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Sodium |
ppm |
50 |
|
162* |
23.2 |
Naturally occurring element |
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Sulfate |
ppm |
250 |
68 |
10.3 |
Naturally occurring element |
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Total Dissolved Solids |
ppm |
500 |
498 |
108 |
Minerals and salts dissolved in the water |
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Zinc |
ppm |
5 |
|
0.05 |
< 0.2 |
Naturally occurring element |
-
PVWC’s finished water was above New Jersey’s Recommended Upper Limit (RUL) of 50 ppm for sodium in 2018. Possible sources of sodium include natural soil runoff, roadway salt runoff, upstream wastewater treatment plants, and a contribution coming from chemicals used in the water treatment process. For healthy individuals the sodium intake from water is not important, because a much greater intake of sodium takes place from salt in the diet. However, sodium levels above the recommended upper limit may be a concern to individuals on a
sodium-restricted diet. If you have any concerns please contact your health care provider.
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UNREGULATED SUBSTANCES - for which EPA requires monitoring |
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Substance |
Units |
MRL |
PVWC Result |
Newark Result |
Major Sources in Drinking Water |
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Chlorate |
ppb |
20 |
102 - 475 |
- |
Agricultural defoliant or desiccant; disinfection |
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chlorine dioxide |
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PFBS |
ppb |
0.09 |
0.002 - 0.0051 |
- |
Used in products to make them stain, grease, heat and water resistant |
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PFHpA |
ppb |
0.01 |
0.0021 |
- 0.0049 |
- |
Used in products to make them stain, grease, heat and water resistant |
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PFHxS |
ppb |
0.03 |
0.0025 |
- 0.0053 |
- |
Used in products to make them stain, grease, heat and water resistant |
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PFNA |
ppb |
0.02 |
ND - 0.0021 |
- |
Used in products to make them stain, grease, heat and water resistant |
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PFOA |
ppb |
0.02 |
0.0072 |
- 0.0021 |
- |
Used in manufacturer of fluoropolymers, firefighting foams, cleaners, cosmetics, |
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greases, lubricants, paints, polishes, adhesives and photographic films |
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PFOS |
ppb |
0.04 |
0.0049 |
- 0.012 |
- |
Used in firefighting foam, circuit board etching, cleaners, floor polish, and pesticides |
7
Supplement Source of Supply Data (continued from page 7)
CRYPTOSPORIDIUM - Cryptosporidium is a microbial pathogen found in surface water throughout the United States. Although filtration removes Cryptosporidium, the most
at greater risk of developing
Contaminant Name |
PVWC Result |
Newark Result |
Major Sources in Drinking Water |
Source Water |
Source Water |
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Cryptosporidium, # Cysts/L (2017) |
0.87 - 0.878 |
- |
Naturally present in the environment |
Giardia, # Cysts/L (2017) |
0.091 - 2.47 |
- |
Naturally present in the environment |
tap water or bottled water?
Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800.426.4791.
The more you conserve, the more you save!
By installing more efficient water fixtures and repairing leaks, you can reduce indoor water use by up to 25 percent and help save money on water and energy bills. The more you conserve, the more you save!
For more information, please visit the following websites:
www.epa.gov/watersense
www.mysuezwater.com
eBilling
To register for eBilling visit
important information
Please pass this information along to those who speak Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, Gujarti or Arabic:
• Este informe contiene información |
• |
• |
muy importante sobre su agua |
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potable. Tradúzcalo ó hable con |
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alguien que lo entienda bien. |
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• Este reporte contem informáções |
• |
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importantes sobre a sua água |
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de beber. |
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alguém que o compreenda. |
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SUEZ |
mysuezwater.com |
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69 DeVoe Place |
@SUEZwaterNJ |
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Hackensack, NJ 07601 |
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facebook.com/SUEZwaterNJ |
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Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority |
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In keeping with our commitment to the environment, this report was printed on paper containing at least 10% post consumer fiber.
Contaminants
Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority
EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, as well as information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2019 - March 2019), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.
Utility details
- Serves: 262000
- Data available: 2012-2017
- Data Source: Surface water
- Total: 5
Contaminants That Exceed Guidelines
- Chromium (hexavalent)
Other Detected Contaminants
- Chlorate
- Chromium (total)
- Strontium
- Vanadium
Reminder
Always take extra precautions, the water may be safe to drink when it leaves the sewage treatment plant but it may pick up pollutants during its way to your tap. We advise that you ask locals or hotel staff about the water quality. Also, note that different cities have different water mineral contents.
Sources and Resources
Sources Cited
Additional Resources
Jersey City Tap Water
If you’re like many people, you might find that your Jersey City water is free from common contaminants and safe to drink. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. As a matter of fact, some serious contaminants in water are often not detected until they are several years old. By that time, the damage has been done and it can be very costly to reverse the damage done to your family.
If you’re like many people who are concerned about the cleanliness of their drinking water, you should really consider getting a filter for your kitchen or shower. In fact, your whole house may benefit from a filter too. A filter for your showerhead and faucets, both at home and at work, will keep you from coming into contact with harmful chlorine, which could cause a great deal of illness. Also, a good filtration system for your dishwasher and refrigerator will help to keep bacteria from growing, which could also be harmful. Of course, the best thing you can do for yourself and your family is to purchase a home purifier, which will ensure that all of your family’s water is safe from bacteria, chlorine, and any other harmful substance that is found in tap water.
It’s important to realize that clean, potable water is essential for everyone’s health. To ensure that you and your family get the purest water possible, consider making some changes to your lifestyle as well. Try to reduce your exposure to toxins by going organic whenever possible, drinking only filtered water, and filtering your shower and bathroom water. You’ll find that once you start living a healthier lifestyle, you’ll have fewer reasons to drink tap water that is not clean.
Jersey City Drinking Water
The most important thing that you should know about your Jersey City drinking water is that the treatment facilities there do not disinfect it. The chlorination and the fluoride that are using to treat your tap water will kill all the bacteria in it, but also the beneficial microbes that live in your pipes. The treatment facility will kill all of these good microbes along with the bacteria, which makes your drinking water less healthy than it would be if it wasn’t purified. So, when you go to buy bottled water in Jersey City, make sure that you get a purified one so that you are sure that you are getting pure, great-tasting water.
If you are serviced by a public treatment facility, there are chances that there might be a problem with your drinking water. There are several reports every year about prescription drugs and other contaminants in tap water. When these enter into the water supply, they can build up and start to poison people. You need to make sure that you get your water purifier right away so that you can drink safely. There are a number of ways that you can go about doing this, such as installing a water purifier in your home.
Another very important thing that you should know about your Jersey City drinking water is that the treatment facilities are only designed to treat a few types of contaminants, which mainly include chlorine. They do not have a system in place for treating prescription drugs. You need to make sure that you get a good, high-quality system, installed by an expert so that you can get the best quality water for your money. Once you have made the decision to purify your drinking water at home, you should always remember to have a professional test it at least twice a year, to ensure that it is safe to drink.
Jersey City Water
The water that comes from your Jersey City water heater is probably the cleanest water you have ever tasted. The water that you end up drinking has no chlorine or chloramine in it, and none of the other substances commonly found in tap water such as fluoride, lead, or any other metal. If you are concerned about where your water comes from, or how it’s treated, Jersey City water offers a great alternative: a water ionizer.
An ionizer works by passing an electric current through your tap water, turning it dark. The current passes through a bead that contains salt, which then absorbs the electrons in your water ionize it, turning it into dark, healthy metal. In time, the beads will become so full of electrons that they will begin to pull them out of the water, and your water ionizer works by pulling those ions out of the beads, restoring the ionized state of your tap water. An ionizer can also be used to reverse the metal build-up found in water pipes over time, eliminating the excess copper, lead, and other metals in your water. This is especially helpful to households that rely heavily on rainwater to water their gardens and other outdoor water sources or to flush toilets and using city water to do laundry.
There are a number of excellent brands of water ionizers available in the market today, from small, hand-held models that you can keep in your kitchen at all times, right up to systems that are larger and more complex than a refrigerator-sized water ionizer. You can even buy water ionizer kits that you can install right at your home, taking advantage of both ionizing your own water and save a little money on your monthly water bill. The benefits of drinking ionized water far outweigh any one household’s need for it, so if you are drinking contaminated water, you’ll definitely want to make the switch to ionized water as soon as possible.
Jersey City Water Treatment
One of the major concerns about Jersey City water treatment is its high cost. Because this is such a large city, it means that there are more expenses to be met. The fact that it is a major international city with a lot of international travelers passing through makes this problem even worse. To make up for these losses the city has invested millions of dollars in various forms of treatment and cleaning equipment.
In the early years of Jersey City’s water treatment program, it used to use a mechanical straightening system to remove particles in the water. It was not until later when the demand for purified water increased that the department developed a chemical process to do this. Now the system they use uses both a mechanical and chemical method. In the mechanical process, the treated water is passed through beds of chemicals that break down any materials that could potentially be found within the water. This is then mixed with plain old tap water to form a liquid that can then be circulated throughout the entire distribution system.
When it comes to what is used for this filtering system it depends on where you are in the area. The most popular type of filtration that is used today is a multi-stage carbon filter that uses activated carbon to trap any and all unwanted substances. They are also combined with other granular media like clay or stone to further block unwanted substances. After this, the final step is to treat this liquid so that it is safe to drink and will not harm your family or environment. Once this is done then the water is deemed safe to be used again.
Jersey City Safe Drinking Water
In Jersey City, New Jersey, one of the most important concerns that residents have to deal with is the safe drinking water supply. This has become a top priority for many residents after they discovered that in December, the Department of Environmental Protection found E-coli in its water supplies. The news caused mass outrage and raised serious questions about the safety of the drinking water in Jersey City.
Since the discovery, Jersey City water companies have worked hard to contain the E-coli and work to make sure that other contaminants are not introduced into the public drinking water supply. They have also invested heavily in pollution control and have made many improvements to the treatment plants that they use in order to ensure that the water coming out of their facilities is as clean as possible. Even with all of these precautions, the problems of E-coli in the drinking water still persist, and so far, Jersey City has not found a solution to the problem.
Because no one yet knows how serious the problem actually is, you should make sure that the water that you and your family are drinking is as clean as possible. You should get the information that you need about what kind of contaminants may be present in the drinking water in your area by getting online and learning as much as you can about the environmental problems of Jersey City. This will allow you to make an informed decision about the health risks that you may be facing.
Jersey City Water Quality
When you think of Jersey City, New Jersey, the first thing that probably comes to mind is a beautiful white sand beach that looks like it’s ready for the famous “blue waters.” If you happen to be a resident or visitor of this gorgeous town for any length of time, you’ll know that it’s anything but. You may also know it as the host to one of the most prestigious and comprehensive teams of water treatment specialists in the entire world. However, if you are unfamiliar with the history of this proud town, you may be wondering why it has been chosen to host so many tournaments that are both national and local in nature. Jersey City water is treated by one of the best treatment facilities in the country, allowing every drop to be free from prescription drugs and other harmful toxins.
Throughout the years, the need for clean water has become more apparent. As a result, the infrastructure of this proud town has developed numerous water treatment facilities, including plants that process all of the water coming into the town. In addition, a large-scale water treatment plant was constructed to supply quality water to all of the residents of Jersey City, as well as to businesses and schools throughout the community. These facilities play a huge role in maintaining the quality of water available to residents and visitors alike. No matter where you live or work, you can be confident that the water in your tap at home is 100% pure.
When shopping around for water purification equipment, look for a unit that can handle the volume of water you need to treat. A simple, single-stage unit is sufficient for a household or office building. However, if you have a high volume of water coming through, a multi-stage system will be necessary. Jersey City water also offers ultra-pure water through a water treatment laboratory that can ensure that the water coming through your faucets is safe for consumption. The only way to be absolutely sure of the quality of your water is to have it tested, but in this day and age, that’s a small price to pay.
Jersey City Water Contaminants
Jersey City water is contaminated with a number of different chemical and organic contaminants that can wreak havoc on the health of both residents and employees. The most harmful of these is Cryptosporidium, which can cause gastrointestinal problems, be fatal in extreme cases, and can even lead to diseases like typhoid and cholera. Another threat is lead, which can cause learning and brain damage, as well as anemia and low birth weights in newborns. A number of other contaminants include VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which are carcinogenic and a threat to human health; THMs (trihalomethanes), which is an estrogen mimic and a probable carcinogen; and MTBE, which is a chemical used to make fireworks.
When it comes to controlling the quality of the Jersey City water supply, there are two methods that are commonly used: chlorination and fluoridation. Both methods are effective, but many people question the effectiveness of chlorination when it comes to removing prescription drugs from the water. This is because while chlorine kills bacteria, prescription drugs are not. According to a report released by the Environmental Protection Agency, one out of every ten cities in the United States that receive municipal water supplies uses chlorine as their primary disinfectant, even though research indicates that this method doesn’t remove all the harmful chemicals found in public water supplies. This includes one in every twenty-New Jersey water systems.
Many people also question the cost of chlorine, particularly when they realize that it costs less than several commercial cleaners and will not have any long-term negative effects on their health. However, according to the Journal of Environmental Quality’s report, “Many studies indicate that exposure to chlorine causes severe damage to human health and increases the risk of cancer.” Studies have shown that children who have been exposed to chlorinated water at home show a greater risk of suffering from asthma and other breathing disorders. In addition to this, researchers have found that children living near or working in a chlorinated water plant have a higher risk of suffering from childhood cancer.
Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority
The Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority was created by an act of the state legislature in Jersey City in May of 2021. The main purpose of the Authority is to serve the residents of Jersey City with services and programs that benefit all of the residents as well as the businesses in the local jurisdiction. The members of the Authority include the mayor, the five-member board of representatives, the six members of the governing board of Jersey City, the five members of the public service commission, and other appointed officials.
The Jersey City municipal sewer system was originally built with a multi-stage system, which was comprised of three different types of stormwater controls, a control for industrial factories, and a third type for the city’s water supply. As additional information is made available about the origins of this type of stormwater control, the importance of each has been discussed. Basically, the purpose of stormwater control systems is to filter large amounts of stormwater runoff from the roof of commercial buildings and factories, and then channel it down into the sewer system with the help of specialized pipes. The system was designed to reduce the amount of sediment that would otherwise have remained in the water surrounding the roof and ground level.
In addition to this, in order to meet the requirements set forth by the US Environmental Protection Agency for the Clean Water Act, the NJ City Utilities Authority has modified its stormwater plan to allow for a greater amount of flexibility when it comes to permitting. As stated by Joseph A. Lamb, the Jr. Chair of the Department of Urban Housing and Communities at the University of Maryland – Baltimore County, “The changes go a long way toward meeting EPA’s goal of regulated, sustainable stormwater discharges. However, the scope of the changes is still insufficient.”