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Community Water System · PWS NJ1435002

Rockaway Twp Water Dept

Rockaway, New Jersey 07849 - drinking water served from groundwater sources to 14,000 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

14,000
People served
234
EPA violations
3
Health-based
6 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 234 drinking-water violations at Rockaway Twp Water Dept, 1% of them health-based - above the New Jersey per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 6 PFAS compounds.

234
Total EPA violations on record
1%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
14,000
People served by this system
6
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Rockaway Twp Water Dept

Rockaway Twp Water Dept is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 14,000 residents in Rockaway, New Jersey (Morris County) through 4,350 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 234 total violations for this system , of which 3 (1%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 210 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 Nitrate, recorded in 29 violations (MR). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 6 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 12 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%).

Rockaway Twp Water Dept's 234 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.

PFAS Detected

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

Population Served
14,000
Total Violations
234
Health-Based Violations
3
Water Source
Groundwater

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
4,350
County
Morris
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
3
Monitoring Violations
210
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Nitrate MR 29 2023
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 16 2017
Chlorine MR 16 2024
TTHM MR 14 2016
Combined Uranium MR 6 2008
Styrene MR 5 2004
Xylenes, Total MR 5 2004
DICHLOROMETHANE MR 5 2004
o-Dichlorobenzene MR 5 2004
p-Dichlorobenzene MR 5 2004
1,2-Dichloroethane MR 5 2004
1,2-Dichloropropane MR 5 2004
Trichloroethylene MR 5 2004
1,1,2-Trichloroethane MR 5 2004
CHLOROBENZENE MR 5 2004
Ethylbenzene MR 5 2004
Vinyl chloride MR 5 2004
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 5 2004
1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 5 2004
Benzene MR 5 2004
Carbon tetrachloride MR 5 2004
Tetrachloroethylene MR 5 2004
Toluene MR 5 2004
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MR 5 2008
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MR 5 2004
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 5 2004
Combined Radium (-226 and -228) MR 5 2008
1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 5 2004
Public Notice Other 4 2023
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 4 2021

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 25 of 174 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFDA 9/8/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 9/8/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/8/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/8/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/8/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 9/8/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/8/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 9/8/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/8/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/8/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/8/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 9/8/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/8/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/8/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 9/8/2025 4.10 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
NFDHA 9/8/2025 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 9/8/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 9/8/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/8/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/8/2025 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/8/2025 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/8/2025 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 9/8/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 9/8/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 9/8/2025 10.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFNA 9/8/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 9/8/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 9/8/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/8/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/8/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 9/8/2025 3.40 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFBA 9/8/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/8/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/8/2025 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/8/2025 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 9/8/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/8/2025 4.70 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFUnA 9/8/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 9/8/2025 9.20 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFOS 9/8/2025 9.40 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFNA 9/8/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 9/8/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/8/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 9/8/2025 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/8/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/8/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/8/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/8/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/8/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/8/2025 <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 Rockaway Twp Water Dept.

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 NJ1435002 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 Rockaway Twp Water Dept 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
2024 Chlorine MR 16 SDWIS / NJ1435002 / 0999
2023 Nitrate MR 29 SDWIS / NJ1435002 / 1040
2023 Public Notice Other 4 SDWIS / NJ1435002 / 7500
2023 E. COLI MR 2 SDWIS / NJ1435002 / 3014
2021 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 4 SDWIS / NJ1435002 / 7000
2017 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 16 SDWIS / NJ1435002 / 2456
2016 TTHM MR 14 SDWIS / NJ1435002 / 2950
2016 Revised Total Coliform Rule RPT 2 SDWIS / NJ1435002 / 8000
2011 Lead and Copper Rule MR 3 SDWIS / NJ1435002 / 5000
2011 Coliform (TCR) MCL 3 SDWIS / NJ1435002 / 3100
2008 Combined Uranium MR 6 SDWIS / NJ1435002 / 4006
2008 Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MR 5 SDWIS / NJ1435002 / 4000
2008 Combined Radium (-226 and -228) MR 5 SDWIS / NJ1435002 / 4010
2004 Styrene MR 5 SDWIS / NJ1435002 / 2996
2004 Xylenes, Total MR 5 SDWIS / NJ1435002 / 2955

How Rockaway Twp Water Dept Compares

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

Metric Rockaway Twp Water Dept New Jersey avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 234 59.8 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 3 6.5 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 6 compounds 78.8% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 14,000 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 Rockaway Twp Water Dept water safe to drink?
Rockaway Twp Water Dept (PWS ID: NJ1435002) has 234 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 6 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 14,000 people using Groundwater sources.
How many people does Rockaway Twp Water Dept serve?
Rockaway Twp Water Dept serves 14,000 people in Rockaway, New Jersey. It is a Local-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 4,350 service connections.
What type of violations does Rockaway Twp Water Dept have?
Rockaway Twp Water Dept has 234 total violations: 3 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 210 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Rockaway Twp Water Dept water?
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 6 PFAS compounds in Rockaway Twp Water Dept's water supply: PFOS, PFOA, PFBS, PFPeA, PFHxA, and others. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Rockaway Twp Water Dept use?
Rockaway Twp Water 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.
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.