Is Hightstown Water Department water safe to drink?

Hightstown Water Department (PWS ID: NJ1104001) has 129 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. EPA SDWIS lists this system's service population as 5,400 people using Groundwater sources.

How many people does Hightstown Water Department serve?

EPA SDWIS reports that Hightstown Water Department serves 5,400 people (this public water system's service population, not the municipal population of Highstown or any other city). It is a Local-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 1,733 service connections. The operator address is listed in Highstown, New Jersey.

What type of violations does Hightstown Water Department have?

Hightstown Water Department has 129 total violations: 4 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 118 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.

Has PFAS been detected in Hightstown Water Department water?

No. Hightstown Water Department was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.

What water source does Hightstown Water Department use?

Hightstown Water Department 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 Hightstown Water Department sit among U.S. public water systems?

According to EPA SDWIS population_served among sitemap-advertised systems (serving 500+), Hightstown Water Department ranks #7,358 of 29,740 by people served, and #214 of 689 in New Jersey. Ordinals use population_served DESC among systems serving 500+ (the sitemap cohort). See /methodology#corpus-placement.

How does Hightstown Water Department's violation count compare nationally?

Hightstown Water Department has 129 recorded EPA SDWIS violations, fewer than 22% of the 29,740 public water systems serving 500 or more people nationwide (the same sitemap cohort used for the corpus-placement ranking above). 78% of that cohort has fewer violations than Hightstown Water Department. 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 NJ1104001

Hightstown Water Department

Operator location Highstown, New Jersey - larger served population (> 3,309) at 5,400 people served; 129 SDWIS violations on record from groundwater sources.

Compiled by PlainWater · May 15, 2026

5,400
People served (this PWS) Larger third of systems: 129
EPA violations (this PWS) Upper third of systems: 4
Health-based (this PWS) Middle third by health-based share: No PFAS
UCMR5 (this PWS) Tested, none detected

Follow published updates (RSS)

Hightstown Water Department standing, high SDWIS violation third

5,400 people served (SDWIS) - larger served population (> 3,309). Corpus terciles use 29,740 systems serving 500+ (the sitemap cohort). Health-based share 3% is middle-third health share (≤ 23%). UCMR5: UCMR5 tested, none detected. Population rank #7,358 of 29,740 among systems serving 500+.

The verdict

Hightstown Water Department sits in the upper third of the sitemap cohort by violation count (129), so the tables below sample a dense compliance trail rather than a near-clean ledger. Population served is large (5,400; larger served population (> 3,309)), so household exposure scale sits behind the violation mix. Health-based share is 3% (middle-third health share (≤ 23%)). UCMR5 tested this system and reported no PFAS above the minimum reporting level.

#7,358 of 29,740
Population · /systems: #214 of 689
Population · NJ: 129
Total EPA violations on record: 3%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)

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

Water Safety Score

32/100

Hightstown Water Department

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 D

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

Monitoring & reporting violations F

125

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

PFAS contamination N/A

Tested, none detected

Highest PFAS compound level detected in UCMR5 testing

System Details

System Type: Community
Owner Type: Local
Connections: 1,733
County: Mercer
School/Daycare: No
MCL Violations: 4
Monitoring Violations: 118
Treatment Tech Violations: 0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant	Category	Count	Latest
p-Dichlorobenzene	MR	6	2008
1,2-Dichloroethane	MR	6	2008
1,1,1-Trichloroethane	MR	6	2008
Benzene	MR	6	2008
Trichloroethylene	MR	6	2008
Vinyl chloride	MR	6	2008
1,1-Dichloroethylene	MR	6	2008
Carbon tetrachloride	MR	6	2008
Ethylbenzene	MR	5	2008
Styrene	MR	5	2008
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene	MR	5	2008
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene	MR	5	2008
Xylenes, Total	MR	5	2008
o-Dichlorobenzene	MR	5	2008
1,1,2-Trichloroethane	MR	5	2008
CHLOROBENZENE	MR	5	2008
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene	MR	5	2008
Tetrachloroethylene	MR	5	2008
Toluene	MR	5	2008
DICHLOROMETHANE	MR	5	2008
1,2-Dichloropropane	MR	5	2008
Coliform (TCR)	MCL	4	2012
Consumer Confidence Rule	Other	4	2021
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)	MR	3	2015
Mercury	MR	1	1988
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U	MR	1	1980

Violation Count vs. the National Corpus

Hightstown Water Department has 129 recorded EPA violations, 78% of the 29,740 public water systems serving 500+ people nationwide carry fewer, and 22% carry more. 3% of this system's own violations are health-based (4 of 129), and it ranks #7,358 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)

129 Higher than most more violations than 78% 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

Hightstown Water Department 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 Hightstown Water Department. 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
Hightstown Water Department: 129 violations, 3% 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. 0 of 58 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant	Date	Result	MRL	Status
PFTA	7/14/2025	<8.00 ppt	8.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFTrDA	7/14/2025	<7.00 ppt	7.00 ppt	Not Detected
NEtFOSAA	7/14/2025	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHxS	7/14/2025	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
HFPO-DA	7/14/2025	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHpS	7/14/2025	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFPeS	7/14/2025	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
NFDHA	7/14/2025	<20.00 ppt	20.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFEESA	7/14/2025	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFMBA	7/14/2025	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFPeA	7/14/2025	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFMPA	7/14/2025	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
8:2 FTS	7/14/2025	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
4:2 FTS	7/14/2025	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFBS	7/14/2025	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFBA	7/14/2025	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
NMeFOSAA	7/14/2025	<6.00 ppt	6.00 ppt	Not Detected
ADONA	7/14/2025	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS	7/14/2025	<2.00 ppt	2.00 ppt	Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS	7/14/2025	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFUnA	7/14/2025	<2.00 ppt	2.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHxA	7/14/2025	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFDoA	7/14/2025	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFDA	7/14/2025	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFOA	7/14/2025	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFOS	7/14/2025	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFNA	7/14/2025	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHpA	7/14/2025	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
6:2 FTS	7/14/2025	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
NEtFOSAA	1/14/2025	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
NMeFOSAA	1/14/2025	<6.00 ppt	6.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFTrDA	1/14/2025	<7.00 ppt	7.00 ppt	Not Detected
4:2 FTS	1/14/2025	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFTA	1/14/2025	<8.00 ppt	8.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFBS	1/14/2025	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFDA	1/14/2025	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFDoA	1/14/2025	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHxA	1/14/2025	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFUnA	1/14/2025	<2.00 ppt	2.00 ppt	Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS	1/14/2025	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS	1/14/2025	<2.00 ppt	2.00 ppt	Not Detected
ADONA	1/14/2025	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
HFPO-DA	1/14/2025	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFOA	1/14/2025	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
6:2 FTS	1/14/2025	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHpS	1/14/2025	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHpA	1/14/2025	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHxS	1/14/2025	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFNA	1/14/2025	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFBA	1/14/2025	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected

Population served record for Hightstown Water Department

EPA SDWIS lists 5,400 people served and 1,733 connections for this PWS, confirm the service-area footprint on the federal report before comparing to municipal census totals.

EPA SDWIS · PWS NJ1104001 NJ primacy agency

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

Nationwide peers

129 violations · 5,400 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 with similar served population

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

4 peers

What to do with Hightstown Water Department

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.