Is Jersey City tap water safe to drink?

Yes but with caveats

Jersey City's water meets EPA minimum standards but has some concerns. Filtration is recommended for sensitive individuals.

69/100
Purity Score
3
Issues Found
3.2 GPG
Hardness
Unknown
PFAS

3 Issues Detected in Jersey City

Moderate Lead Risk

Some lead risk from older plumbing infrastructure.

Lead data for Jersey City

High Chlorine Residual

Elevated chlorine can affect taste smell and skin.

Chlorine info for Jersey City

Arsenic Approaching Limit (0.5 mg/L)

EPA limit is 0.010 mg/L.

Arsenic info for Jersey City
New Jersey

70,970,730,207,303 · Hackensack River and Catskill system

Jersey City, NJ Water Quality Report

Moderate Risk Updated March 2026 292,449 residents
See Best Filters for Jersey City
69
Purity Score

Contaminant Levels

Lead
12 ppb
Nitrate
1 mg/L
Arsenic
0.5 mg/L
Hardness
3.2 gpg

Health Insights

  • 1
    PFAS testing data is limited for Jersey City. Residents concerned about exposure may want to test independently.
  • 2
    Chlorine residuals in Jersey City are on the higher end. An activated carbon filter readily removes it.
  • 3
    Moderate lead risk exists in Jersey City. Homes with pre-1986 plumbing should consider a certified filter.

Score

69 /100
Moderate
"Good" threshold (70)

Jersey City tap water is sourced from Hackensack River and Catskill system and treated by Suez Water New Jersey. Moderate lead risk exists in older homes with lead service lines. Overall purity score: 69/100 (Moderate). Updated for 2026.

Fix Your Water

Best filters matched to Jersey City's 3 issues.

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Explore Jersey City Water Data

PFAS in Jersey CityForever chemicals
Lead in Jersey CityLead risk
Jersey City Hard WaterHardness data
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Jersey City Water FAQ

Is Jersey City NJ tap water safe to drink in 2026?
Jersey City tap water meets EPA federal drinking water standards and scores 69/100 (Moderate) on PurityMap for 2026. For most healthy adults the water is considered safe but point-of-use filtration adds an important layer of protection.
Does Jersey City NJ use chlorine or chloramine for disinfection?
Jersey City uses chloramine as the primary disinfectant with a residual level of 2.2 ppm. Chloramine is harder to remove than free chlorine and requires a catalytic carbon or reverse osmosis filter. Standard Brita-style pitchers will NOT remove chloramine.
How hard is Jersey City NJ water and what is the TDS level?
Jersey City water hardness is 3.2 grains per gallon (soft) with a TDS of 115 ppm (good). This level is unlikely to cause significant scale buildup in household plumbing.
Has PFAS been found in Jersey City NJ drinking water?
PFAS testing data for Jersey City is incomplete or pending under EPA UCMR5 monitoring. Check your utility CCR report for the latest results. A certified filter provides precautionary protection.
What is the best water filter for Jersey City?
Based on Jersey City's water profile, we recommend the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher. Jersey City has elevated chlorine residuals. An under-sink carbon filter removes chlorine and disinfection byproducts at the tap.

Nearby Reports

NewarkNew Jersey — 63/100Toms RiverNew Jersey — 67/100CamdenNew Jersey — 71/100PatersonNew Jersey — 77/100TrentonNew Jersey — 77/100ElizabethNew Jersey — 82/100

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Data Sources

  • EPA SDWIS
  • EWG Tap Water Database
  • Suez Water New Jersey CCR
  • USGS monitoring data

PurityMap compiles public data. Updated March 2026.

© 2026 PurityMap. For informational purposes only.

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