Is High Bridge W Dept water safe to drink?

High Bridge W Dept (PWS ID: NJ1014001) has 145 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 3 PFAS compounds found. EPA SDWIS lists this system's service population as 3,300 people using Groundwater sources.

How many people does High Bridge W Dept serve?

EPA SDWIS reports that High Bridge W Dept serves 3,300 people (this public water system's service population, not the municipal population of High Bridge or any other city). It is a Local-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 1,472 service connections. The operator address is listed in High Bridge, New Jersey.

What type of violations does High Bridge W Dept have?

High Bridge W Dept has 145 total violations: 8 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 116 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.

Has PFAS been detected in High Bridge W Dept water?

Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 3 PFAS compounds in High Bridge W Dept's water supply: PFOS, PFOA, PFBS. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.

What water source does High Bridge W Dept use?

High Bridge W Dept uses Groundwater 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.

Where does High Bridge W Dept sit among U.S. public water systems?

According to EPA SDWIS population_served among sitemap-advertised systems (serving 500+), High Bridge W Dept ranks #9,947 of 29,740 by people served, and #253 of 689 in New Jersey. Ordinals use population_served DESC among systems serving 500+ (the sitemap cohort). See /methodology#corpus-placement.

How does High Bridge W Dept's violation count compare nationally?

High Bridge W Dept has 145 recorded EPA SDWIS violations, fewer than 19% of the 29,740 public water systems serving 500 or more people nationwide (the same sitemap cohort used for the corpus-placement ranking above). 80% of that cohort has fewer violations than High Bridge W Dept. A system can have zero recorded violations and still be actively monitored, and a high violation count often reflects a system that reports thoroughly, not necessarily one with worse water.

States → New Jersey

Community Water System · PWS NJ1014001

High Bridge W Dept

Operator location High Bridge, New Jersey - upper-third violation load (> 74 violations) with 145 EPA violations; groundwater source; 3,300 served (PWS-level, not municipal population).

Compiled by PlainWater · May 15, 2026

3,300
People served (this PWS) Middle third of systems: 145
EPA violations (this PWS) Upper third of systems: 8
Health-based (this PWS) Middle third by health-based share: 3 PFAS
UCMR5 (this PWS) Middle third of PFAS-detected systems

Follow published updates (RSS)

High Bridge W Dept standing, high SDWIS violation third

145 EPA SDWIS violations on record - upper-third violation load (> 74 violations). Corpus terciles use 29,740 systems serving 500+ (the sitemap cohort). Health-based share 6% is middle-third health share (≤ 23%). UCMR5: middle-third PFAS panel (≤ 4 compounds). Population rank #9,947 of 29,740 among systems serving 500+.

The verdict

High Bridge W Dept sits in the upper third of the sitemap cohort by violation count (145), so the tables below sample a dense compliance trail rather than a near-clean ledger. Population served is mid-pack at 3,300 (mid served population (≤ 3,309)). Health-based share is 6% (middle-third health share (≤ 23%)). UCMR5 detected 3 PFAS compounds (middle-third PFAS panel (≤ 4 compounds)).

#9,947 of 29,740
Population · /systems: #253 of 689
Population · NJ: 145
Total EPA violations on record: 6%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)

Population ordinals match the sitemap cohort (systems serving 500+, population_served DESC). See methodology · corpus placement.

PFAS Detected

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

Water Safety Score

39/100

High Bridge W Dept

Based on EPA SDWIS violation history and UCMR5 PFAS testing only, not water taste, odor, infrastructure age, or contaminants outside the federally tracked set.

Health-based violations F

EPA SDWIS health-based violations on record (MCL, MRDL, treatment technique)

Monitoring & reporting violations F

137

Non-health SDWIS violations (monitoring, reporting, and other compliance)

PFAS contamination A-

0.0049 µg/L

Highest PFAS compound level detected in UCMR5 testing

System Details

System Type: Community
Owner Type: Local
Connections: 1,472
County: Hunterdon
School/Daycare: No
MCL Violations: 8
Monitoring Violations: 116
Treatment Tech Violations: 0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant	Category	Count	Latest
Consumer Confidence Rule	Other	14	2025
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)	MR	11	2020
CHLOROBENZENE	MR	11	2024
TTHM	MR	9	2018
Lead and Copper Rule	MR	9	2023
Xylenes, Total	MR	8	2024
Trichloroethylene	MCL	5	1996
E. COLI	MR	5	2024
Nitrate	MR	3	2003
Coliform (TCR)	MCL	3	2014
DICHLOROMETHANE	MR	2	2024
o-Dichlorobenzene	MR	2	2024
p-Dichlorobenzene	MR	2	2024
Vinyl chloride	MR	2	2024
1,1-Dichloroethylene	MR	2	2024
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene	MR	2	2024
1,1,1-Trichloroethane	MR	2	2024
Tetrachloroethylene	MR	2	2024
Benzene	MR	2	2024
Toluene	MR	2	2024
Ethylbenzene	MR	2	2024
Styrene	MR	2	2024
Arsenic	MR	2	1999
Barium	MR	2	1999
Chromium	MR	2	1999
Fluoride	MR	2	1999
Selenium	MR	2	1999
Mercury	MR	2	1999
Cadmium	MR	2	1999
1,2-Dichloroethane	MR	2	2024

Violation Count vs. the National Corpus

High Bridge W Dept has 145 recorded EPA violations, 80% of the 29,740 public water systems serving 500+ people nationwide carry fewer, and 19% carry more. 6% of this system's own violations are health-based (8 of 145), and it ranks #9,947 of 29,740 by population served among that same cohort.

EPA violations vs. the national water-system corpus

Public water systems serving 500+ people (EPA SDWIS)

145 Higher than most more violations than 80% of 29,740 water systems

the national water-system corpus, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more water systems. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source EPA SDWIS · 2026-05-15

How many violations vs. how serious, among peer systems

High Bridge W Dept plotted against 29 peer public water systems (500+ people served), by total violation count (x) and the share of those violations that are health-based (y). The crosshair sits at this sample's own median on each axis. A high violation count does not automatically mean a serious record: most monitoring and reporting violations are minor, not health-based.

30 public water systems (500+ people served), EPA SDWIS current release.

How to read this

Each dot is one public water system; the highlighted dot is High Bridge W Dept. A system to the right has more recorded violations; a system higher up has a larger share of those violations classified health-based rather than monitoring or reporting.

Rare but serious: few violations, but most of them are health-based.
Frequent, mostly paperwork: many violations, but mostly monitoring or reporting, not health-based.
Clean record: below-median on both counts, the tinted corner.

View all 30 systems as a list

City of Ballinger: 372 violations, 85% health-based
Nooksack Valley Water Association: 16 violations, 31% health-based
Montgomery Co RWD 12: 7 violations, 29% health-based
Irvin Water District #6: 11 violations, 27% health-based
Ticonderoga WD: 47 violations, 26% health-based
Pine Valley Plantation: 37 violations, 24% health-based
McLouth, City Of: 29 violations, 17% health-based
Kipling Oaks 1: 25 violations, 16% health-based
South Deerfield Water Supply District: 96 violations, 16% health-based
Sunset Ridge Water District: 82 violations, 15% health-based
Orange Water Dept: 136 violations, 14% health-based
Mount Pleasant Water Sys #1: 167 violations, 11% health-based
High Bridge W Dept: 145 violations, 6% health-based (this system)
Lake Gibson Estates: 42 violations, 2% health-based
Benson Culinary Improvement District: 212 violations, 1% health-based
Conemaugh Twp Muni Auth: 567 violations, 1% health-based
Miccosukee Service Plaza: 0 violations, 0% health-based
Brazoria - Fort Bend Counties MUD 3: 0 violations, 0% health-based
Tanglewilde Thompson Place 600: 2 violations, 0% health-based
Center Water Co: 5 violations, 0% health-based
Spring Mills Elem School/Hvs: 9 violations, 0% health-based
Great Bend Industrial Park: 14 violations, 0% health-based
Glen Park Village: 19 violations, 0% health-based
Camp Is-Sho-Da: 22 violations, 0% health-based
Hamilton: 33 violations, 0% health-based
Town of Welaka: 54 violations, 0% health-based
Township of Blairstown Dpw: 61 violations, 0% health-based
McIntosh Water & Fire Pro Authority: 71 violations, 0% health-based
Clarkdale Municipal Water System: 114 violations, 0% health-based
Eureka Water Association: 273 violations, 0% health-based

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 5 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant	Date	Result	MRL	Status
PFMBA	4/18/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFUnA	4/18/2023	<2.00 ppt	2.00 ppt	Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS	4/18/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS	4/18/2023	<2.00 ppt	2.00 ppt	Not Detected
ADONA	4/18/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHpS	4/18/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFPeS	4/18/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHxA	4/18/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFEESA	4/18/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFOS	4/18/2023	4.80 ppt	4.00 ppt	Detected
PFPeA	4/18/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFMPA	4/18/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
8:2 FTS	4/18/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
4:2 FTS	4/18/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
6:2 FTS	4/18/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFBA	4/18/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
NFDHA	4/18/2023	<20.00 ppt	20.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHpA	4/18/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFOA	4/18/2023	4.90 ppt	4.00 ppt	Detected
PFNA	4/18/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHxS	4/18/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
HFPO-DA	4/18/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFTA	4/18/2023	<8.00 ppt	8.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFBS	4/18/2023	3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Detected
PFDoA	4/18/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFTrDA	4/18/2023	<7.00 ppt	7.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFDA	4/18/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
NEtFOSAA	4/18/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
NMeFOSAA	4/18/2023	<6.00 ppt	6.00 ppt	Not Detected
NEtFOSAA	4/18/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFMBA	4/18/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFTA	4/18/2023	<8.00 ppt	8.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFBS	4/18/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFTrDA	4/18/2023	<7.00 ppt	7.00 ppt	Not Detected
NMeFOSAA	4/18/2023	<6.00 ppt	6.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHpS	4/18/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFPeS	4/18/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFEESA	4/18/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFPeA	4/18/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFMPA	4/18/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
8:2 FTS	4/18/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
4:2 FTS	4/18/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
6:2 FTS	4/18/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFDA	4/18/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHpA	4/18/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
NFDHA	4/18/2023	<20.00 ppt	20.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFBA	4/18/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFNA	4/18/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFOA	4/18/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHxS	4/18/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected

SDWIS compliance record for High Bridge W Dept

145 violations on record for NJ1014001; use EPA SDWIS to confirm return-to-compliance dates and monitoring categories.

EPA SDWIS · PWS NJ1014001 NJ primacy agency

Sources: EPA SDWIS · NJ DEP, Bureau of Safe Drinking Water

Nationwide peers

145 violations · 3,300 served: nearest cross-state SDWIS matches.

Cross-state systems with comparable violation load

Nearest cross-state community systems (500+ served) by total SDWIS violations on record.

4 peers

Cross-state systems near this population served

Nearest cross-state systems by EPA SDWIS population_served (same 500+ sitemap gate).

4 peers

What to do with High Bridge W Dept

Use this system's EPA-reported record as a starting filter, not a final verdict.

See how every tracked system in New Jersey compares on the same EPA violation measures. New Jersey systems
Check whether PFAS was detected at this system under UCMR5 testing. PFAS guide
Find and compare another public water system by name or PWSID. Search systems

EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 figures are informational only, not a substitute for a certified lab test of your own tap water.

Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater

Compiled by PlainWater, Drinking Water Quality Editorial Process · May 15, 2026

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