Community Water System · PWS NJ1111001
Trenton Water Works
Trenton, New Jersey 08638 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 217,000 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.
- 217,000
- People served
- 412
- EPA violations
- 107
- Health-based
- No PFAS
- UCMR5 result
The verdict
EPA records 412 drinking-water violations at Trenton Water Works, 26% of them health-based - above the New Jersey per-system average.
- 412
- Total EPA violations on record
- 26%
- Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
- 217,000
- People served by this system
- 0
- PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)
Water Quality Snapshot: Trenton Water Works
Trenton Water Works is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 217,000 residents in Trenton, New Jersey (Mercer County) through 62,403 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 412 total violations for this system , of which 107 (26%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 282 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2024.
The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Surface Water Treatment Rule, recorded in 67 violations (MR). This system was sampled under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program and no PFAS compounds were detected above the minimum reporting level.
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%).
Trenton Water Works's 412 violations sit above 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.
System Details
- System Type
- Community
- Owner Type
- Local
- Connections
- 62,403
- County
- Mercer
- School/Daycare
- No
- MCL Violations
- 64
- Monitoring Violations
- 282
- Treatment Tech Violations
- 43
Violation History
Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.
| Contaminant | Category | Count | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | MR | 67 | 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MON | 57 | 2023 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | MR | 44 | 2024 |
| TTHM | MCL | 40 | 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MCL | 24 | 2018 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | TT | 23 | 2021 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | MR | 18 | 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Other | 9 | 2021 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | TT | 8 | 2018 |
| Coliform (TCR) | MR | 6 | 2014 |
| CARBON, TOTAL | TT | 6 | 2010 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | TT | 6 | 2021 |
| CARBON, TOTAL | MR | 6 | 2002 |
| Public Notice | Other | 5 | 2021 |
| Fluoride | MR | 4 | 2021 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MR | 3 | 2023 |
| Xylenes, Total | MR | 3 | 2023 |
| DICHLOROMETHANE | MR | 3 | 2023 |
| o-Dichlorobenzene | MR | 3 | 2023 |
| p-Dichlorobenzene | MR | 3 | 2023 |
| Vinyl chloride | MR | 3 | 2023 |
| 1,2-Dichloroethane | MR | 3 | 2023 |
| 1,1,1-Trichloroethane | MR | 3 | 2023 |
| 1,1,2-Trichloroethane | MR | 3 | 2023 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | MR | 3 | 2023 |
| CHLOROBENZENE | MR | 3 | 2023 |
| Benzene | MR | 3 | 2023 |
| Toluene | MR | 3 | 2023 |
| Ethylbenzene | MR | 3 | 2023 |
| Styrene | MR | 3 | 2023 |
PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)
Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 116 samples detected PFAS.
| Contaminant | Date | Result | MRL | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NMeFOSAA | 7/31/2023 | <6.00 ppt | 6.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NEtFOSAA | 7/31/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTrDA | 7/31/2023 | <7.00 ppt | 7.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTA | 7/31/2023 | <8.00 ppt | 8.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NEtFOSAA | 4/19/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxA | 4/19/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDoA | 4/19/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDA | 4/19/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOA | 4/19/2023 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOS | 4/19/2023 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFNA | 4/19/2023 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxS | 4/19/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpA | 4/19/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBS | 4/19/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTA | 4/19/2023 | <8.00 ppt | 8.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NMeFOSAA | 4/19/2023 | <6.00 ppt | 6.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTrDA | 4/19/2023 | <7.00 ppt | 7.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpS | 4/19/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFUnA | 4/19/2023 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 8:2 FTS | 4/19/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeS | 4/19/2023 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFEESA | 4/19/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMBA | 4/19/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NFDHA | 4/19/2023 | <20.00 ppt | 20.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMPA | 4/19/2023 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 11Cl-PF3OUdS | 4/19/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 4:2 FTS | 4/19/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 6:2 FTS | 4/19/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBA | 4/19/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| HFPO-DA | 4/19/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| ADONA | 4/19/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 9Cl-PF3ONS | 4/19/2023 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeA | 4/19/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMPA | 10/31/2023 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 4:2 FTS | 10/31/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBA | 10/31/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 8:2 FTS | 10/31/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| HFPO-DA | 10/31/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 6:2 FTS | 10/31/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeA | 10/31/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMBA | 10/31/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeS | 10/31/2023 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NFDHA | 10/31/2023 | <20.00 ppt | 20.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFEESA | 10/31/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 9Cl-PF3ONS | 10/31/2023 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 11Cl-PF3OUdS | 10/31/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpS | 10/31/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpA | 10/31/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTrDA | 10/31/2023 | <7.00 ppt | 7.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NEtFOSAA | 10/31/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 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 Trenton Water Works.
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 NJ1111001 on SDWISSource: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search
New Jersey Drinking Water Authority
NJ DEP, Bureau of Safe Drinking Water is the primacy agency that licenses and inspects Trenton Water Works under EPA-delegated authority.
Open NJ regulator portalViolation 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Lead and Copper Rule | MR | 44 | SDWIS / NJ1111001 / 5000 |
| 2024 | TTHM | MCL | 40 | SDWIS / NJ1111001 / 2950 |
| 2023 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | MR | 67 | SDWIS / NJ1111001 / 0200 |
| 2023 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | MON | 57 | SDWIS / NJ1111001 / 8000 |
| 2023 | Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | MR | 18 | SDWIS / NJ1111001 / 0300 |
| 2023 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MR | 3 | SDWIS / NJ1111001 / 2456 |
| 2023 | Xylenes, Total | MR | 3 | SDWIS / NJ1111001 / 2955 |
| 2023 | DICHLOROMETHANE | MR | 3 | SDWIS / NJ1111001 / 2964 |
| 2023 | o-Dichlorobenzene | MR | 3 | SDWIS / NJ1111001 / 2968 |
| 2023 | p-Dichlorobenzene | MR | 3 | SDWIS / NJ1111001 / 2969 |
| 2023 | Vinyl chloride | MR | 3 | SDWIS / NJ1111001 / 2976 |
| 2023 | 1,2-Dichloroethane | MR | 3 | SDWIS / NJ1111001 / 2980 |
| 2023 | 1,1,1-Trichloroethane | MR | 3 | SDWIS / NJ1111001 / 2981 |
| 2023 | 1,1,2-Trichloroethane | MR | 3 | SDWIS / NJ1111001 / 2985 |
| 2023 | Tetrachloroethylene | MR | 3 | SDWIS / NJ1111001 / 2987 |
How Trenton Water Works Compares
Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.
| Metric | Trenton Water Works | New Jersey avg | Federal benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total violations | 412 | 59.8 | SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach |
| Health-based violations | 107 | 6.5 | Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL |
| PFAS detection | None | 78.8% | EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt |
| Population served | 217,000 | 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 Trenton Water Works water safe to drink? ▼
How many people does Trenton Water Works serve? ▼
What type of violations does Trenton Water Works have? ▼
Has PFAS been detected in Trenton Water Works water? ▼
What water source does Trenton Water Works use? ▼
Where does this data come from? ▼
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
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.