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Community Water System · PWS NJ0712001

NJ American Water - Short Hills

Short Hills, New Jersey 07078 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 217,230 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

217,230
People served
31
EPA violations
0
Health-based
7 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 31 drinking-water violations at NJ American Water - Short Hills - below the New Jersey per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 7 PFAS compounds.

31
Total EPA violations on record
0%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
217,230
People served by this system
7
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: NJ American Water - Short Hills

NJ American Water - Short Hills is a private-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 217,230 residents in Short Hills, New Jersey (Essex County) through 81,832 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 31 total violations for this system , of which 0 (0%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 24 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2015.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is E. COLI, recorded in 4 violations (MR). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 7 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 27.5 ppt (parts per trillion). PFAS are persistent synthetic chemicals linked to health effects at very low exposure levels.

Across New Jersey, EPA tracks 3,428 public water systems serving 9,570,926 people, with 204,988 cumulative violations and 22,229 health-based violations on record. About 95% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 59.8 violations. Statewide, 208 of 264 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (78.8%).

NJ American Water - Short Hills's 31 violations sit below the New Jersey average.

All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.

PFAS Detected

7 PFAS "forever chemicals" detected in testing under EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program.

Population Served
217,230
Total Violations
31
Health-Based Violations
0
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Private
Connections
81,832
County
Essex
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
0
Monitoring Violations
24
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
E. COLI MR 4 2015
Fluoride MR 2 1982
Selenium MR 2 1982
Chromium MR 2 1982
Cryptosporidium MR 2 2015
Lead and Copper Rule MR 1 2005
Toxaphene MR 1 1978
2,4-D MR 1 1978
Arsenic MR 1 1980
Nitrate MR 1 1980
Barium MR 1 1980
Endrin MR 1 1978
Cadmium MR 1 1980
Methoxychlor MR 1 1978
2,4,5-TP MR 1 1978
Mercury MR 1 1980
BHC-GAMMA MR 1 1978

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 44 of 870 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
HFPO-DA 8/8/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 8/8/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/8/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 8/8/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 8/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/8/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/8/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 8/8/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/8/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 8/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 8/8/2023 3.20 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFOA 8/8/2023 4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFOS 8/8/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/8/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/8/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/8/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/8/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/8/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/8/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/8/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/7/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/7/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/7/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/7/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 8/7/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/7/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/7/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 8/7/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/7/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/7/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/7/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 8/7/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 8/7/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 8/7/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/7/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/7/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/7/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/7/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/7/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/7/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/7/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected

Verify This Water System

The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records, or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status, go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for NJ American Water - Short Hills.

Federal Source of Truth

EPA SDWIS, Federal Reports

EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:

View PWS ID NJ0712001 on SDWIS

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search

State Regulator

New Jersey Drinking Water Authority

NJ DEP, Bureau of Safe Drinking Water is the primacy agency that licenses and inspects NJ American Water - Short Hills under EPA-delegated authority.

Open NJ regulator portal

Source: NJ DEP, Bureau of Safe Drinking Water

Violation Timeline

Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.

Year (latest) Contaminant Category Count EPA Record
2015 E. COLI MR 4 SDWIS / NJ0712001 / 3014
2015 Cryptosporidium MR 2 SDWIS / NJ0712001 / 3015
2005 Lead and Copper Rule MR 1 SDWIS / NJ0712001 / 5000
1982 Fluoride MR 2 SDWIS / NJ0712001 / 1025
1982 Selenium MR 2 SDWIS / NJ0712001 / 1045
1982 Chromium MR 2 SDWIS / NJ0712001 / 1020
1980 Arsenic MR 1 SDWIS / NJ0712001 / 1005
1980 Nitrate MR 1 SDWIS / NJ0712001 / 1040
1980 Barium MR 1 SDWIS / NJ0712001 / 1010
1980 Cadmium MR 1 SDWIS / NJ0712001 / 1015
1980 Mercury MR 1 SDWIS / NJ0712001 / 1035
1978 Toxaphene MR 1 SDWIS / NJ0712001 / 2020
1978 2,4-D MR 1 SDWIS / NJ0712001 / 2105
1978 Endrin MR 1 SDWIS / NJ0712001 / 2005
1978 Methoxychlor MR 1 SDWIS / NJ0712001 / 2015

How NJ American Water - Short Hills Compares

Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.

Metric NJ American Water - Short Hills New Jersey avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 31 59.8 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 0 6.5 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 7 compounds 78.8% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 217,230 2,792 Sizing context for compliance burden

Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 3,428 regulated public water systems in New Jersey.

Federal MCL reference, Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds
Contaminant Federal MCL / Action Level Note
Lead 0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L) Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique
Arsenic 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb) Health-based MCL since 2006
Total Coliform Treatment technique (RTCR) Indicator organism, monitoring trigger
PFOA / PFOS (PFAS) 4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule) Compliance deadline 2029 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026)
Nitrate (as N) 10 mg/L Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is NJ American Water - Short Hills water safe to drink?
NJ American Water - Short Hills (PWS ID: NJ0712001) has 31 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 7 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 217,230 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does NJ American Water - Short Hills serve?
NJ American Water - Short Hills serves 217,230 people in Short Hills, New Jersey. It is a Private-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 81,832 service connections.
What type of violations does NJ American Water - Short Hills have?
NJ American Water - Short Hills has 31 total violations: 0 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 24 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in NJ American Water - Short Hills water?
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 7 PFAS compounds in NJ American Water - Short Hills's water supply: PFPeA, PFOA, PFHxA, PFBA, PFOS, and others. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does NJ American Water - Short Hills use?
NJ American Water - Short Hills uses Surface Water as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.
Where does this data come from?
All data comes from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program. SDWIS tracks compliance for all public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Data Sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Q4 2025. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 monitoring program (2023-2025). This data is provided for informational purposes only.
Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater Editorial

Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. This system's figures are rendered directly from EPA SDWIS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.