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PERTH AMBOY WATER DEPARTMENT

PWS ID: NJ1216001 · PERTH AMBOY, New Jersey 08861

PERTH AMBOY WATER DEPARTMENT serves 52,328 people in PERTH AMBOY, New Jersey using Surface Water water sources. It has 192 recorded EPA violations, including 20 health-based violations. PFAS "forever chemicals" were detected in UCMR5 testing (7 compounds found).

Water Quality Snapshot: PERTH AMBOY WATER DEPARTMENT

PERTH AMBOY WATER DEPARTMENT is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 52,328 residents in PERTH AMBOY, New Jersey (Middlesex County) through 11,579 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 192 total violations for this system , of which 20 (10%) are health-based — meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 161 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2025.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Lead and Copper Rule, recorded in 20 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 0.019 ppt. 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. PERTH AMBOY WATER DEPARTMENT's 192 violations sit above the New Jersey average. Statewide, 208 of 264 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (78.8%). 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
52,328
Total Violations
192
Health-Based Violations
20
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
11,579
County
Middlesex
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
18
Monitoring Violations
161
Treatment Tech Violations
2

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Lead and Copper Rule MR 20 2019
TTHM MCL 12 2019
Combined Radium (-226 and -228) MR 9 2023
Radium-226 MR 9 2023
Radium-228 MR 9 2023
Turbidity MR 6 2015
Combined Uranium MR 6 2019
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MR 6 2019
Cryptosporidium MR 6 2015
E. COLI MR 6 2015
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 4 2012
Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 4 2019
Coliform (TCR) MCL 4 1991
Xylenes, Total MR 3 2014
o-Dichlorobenzene MR 3 2014
Vinyl chloride MR 3 2014
1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 3 2014
1,2-Dichloroethane MR 3 2014
Carbon tetrachloride MR 3 2014
1,2-Dichloropropane MR 3 2014
1,1,2-Trichloroethane MR 3 2014
Tetrachloroethylene MR 3 2014
Ethylbenzene MR 3 2014
Styrene MR 3 2014
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 3 2014
p-Dichlorobenzene MR 3 2014
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 3 2014
Trichloroethylene MR 3 2014
CHLOROBENZENE MR 3 2014
Benzene MR 3 2014

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 23 of 120 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFDoA 7/29/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
ADONA 7/29/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 7/29/2024 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 7/29/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
HFPO-DA 7/29/2024 0.0131 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Detected
PFHxA 7/29/2024 0.0044 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Detected
lithium 7/29/2024 <9 µg/L 9 µg/L Not Detected
PFDA 7/29/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFOA 7/29/2024 0.0151 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Detected
PFOS 7/29/2024 0.0049 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Detected
PFNA 7/29/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxS 7/29/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpA 7/29/2024 0.0034 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Detected
PFUnA 7/29/2024 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
PFTA 7/29/2024 <0.008 µg/L 0.008 µg/L Not Detected
6:2 FTS 7/29/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
4:2 FTS 7/29/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpS 7/29/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFTrDA 7/29/2024 <0.007 µg/L 0.007 µg/L Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 7/29/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 7/29/2024 <0.006 µg/L 0.006 µg/L Not Detected
NFDHA 7/29/2024 <0.02 µg/L 0.02 µg/L Not Detected
PFMBA 7/29/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeA 7/29/2024 0.0053 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Detected
PFMPA 7/29/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
8:2 FTS 7/29/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFEESA 7/29/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFBS 7/29/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFBA 7/29/2024 0.0050 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Detected
PFPeS 7/29/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 4/8/2024 <0.006 µg/L 0.006 µg/L Not Detected
PFBS 4/8/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpA 4/8/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
NFDHA 4/8/2024 <0.02 µg/L 0.02 µg/L Not Detected
PFNA 4/8/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFDA 4/8/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxS 4/8/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 4/8/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFOA 4/8/2024 0.0142 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Detected
PFPeA 4/8/2024 0.0043 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Detected
PFPeS 4/8/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpS 4/8/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFEESA 4/8/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFOS 4/8/2024 0.0042 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Detected
PFMBA 4/8/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFTrDA 4/8/2024 <0.007 µg/L 0.007 µg/L Not Detected
PFMPA 4/8/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
8:2 FTS 4/8/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
4:2 FTS 4/8/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
6:2 FTS 4/8/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L 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 PERTH AMBOY WATER DEPARTMENT.

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 NJ1216001 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 PERTH AMBOY WATER DEPARTMENT 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
2025 Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MCL 2 SDWIS / NJ1216001 / 4000
2024 CYANIDE MR 2 SDWIS / NJ1216001 / 1024
2023 Combined Radium (-226 and -228) MR 9 SDWIS / NJ1216001 / 4010
2023 Radium-226 MR 9 SDWIS / NJ1216001 / 4020
2023 Radium-228 MR 9 SDWIS / NJ1216001 / 4030
2019 Lead and Copper Rule MR 20 SDWIS / NJ1216001 / 5000
2019 TTHM MCL 12 SDWIS / NJ1216001 / 2950
2019 Combined Uranium MR 6 SDWIS / NJ1216001 / 4006
2019 Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MR 6 SDWIS / NJ1216001 / 4000
2019 Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 4 SDWIS / NJ1216001 / 0200
2018 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 2 SDWIS / NJ1216001 / 7000
2018 Nitrate MR 2 SDWIS / NJ1216001 / 1040
2018 Lead and Copper Rule TT 2 SDWIS / NJ1216001 / 5000
2015 Turbidity MR 6 SDWIS / NJ1216001 / 0100
2015 Cryptosporidium MR 6 SDWIS / NJ1216001 / 3015

How PERTH AMBOY WATER DEPARTMENT Compares

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

Metric PERTH AMBOY WATER DEPARTMENT New Jersey avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 192 59.8 SDWA compliance — any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 20 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 52,328 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
Nitrate (as N) 10 mg/L Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PERTH AMBOY WATER DEPARTMENT water safe to drink? ▼
PERTH AMBOY WATER DEPARTMENT (PWS ID: NJ1216001) has 192 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 7 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 52,328 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does PERTH AMBOY WATER DEPARTMENT serve? ▼
PERTH AMBOY WATER DEPARTMENT serves 52,328 people in PERTH AMBOY, New Jersey. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 11,579 service connections.
What type of violations does PERTH AMBOY WATER DEPARTMENT have? ▼
PERTH AMBOY WATER DEPARTMENT has 192 total violations: 20 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 161 monitoring/reporting violations, and 2 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in PERTH AMBOY WATER DEPARTMENT water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 7 PFAS compounds in PERTH AMBOY WATER DEPARTMENT's water supply: HFPO-DA, PFHxA, PFOA, PFOS, PFHpA, and others. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does PERTH AMBOY WATER DEPARTMENT use? ▼
PERTH AMBOY WATER DEPARTMENT 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.

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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.

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

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Data sourced from $official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by Kiznis Studio Editorial