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Community Water System · PWS NJ2013001

Rahway Water Department

Rahway, New Jersey 07065 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 27,300 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

27,300
People served
65
EPA violations
36
Health-based
4 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 65 drinking-water violations at Rahway Water Department, 55% of them health-based - above the New Jersey per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 4 PFAS compounds.

65
Total EPA violations on record
55%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
27,300
People served by this system
4
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Rahway Water Department

Rahway Water Department is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 27,300 residents in Rahway, New Jersey (Union County) through 8,300 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 65 total violations for this system , of which 36 (55%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 22 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2021.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Trichloroethylene, recorded in 13 violations (MCL, health-based). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 4 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 6.9 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%).

Rahway Water Department's 65 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

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

Population Served
27,300
Total Violations
65
Health-Based Violations
36
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
8,300
County
Union
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
24
Monitoring Violations
22
Treatment Tech Violations
12

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Trichloroethylene MCL 13 1992
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 12 2013
Tetrachloroethylene MCL 10 1992
TTHM MR 7 2018
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 7 2018
Coliform (TCR) MR 2 2002
Nitrate MR 2 2002
Cryptosporidium MR 2 2015
Lead and Copper Rule MR 2 2019
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 2 2021
Coliform (TCR) MCL 1 2008

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 4 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFEESA 6/20/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 6/20/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 6/20/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 6/20/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 6/20/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 6/20/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 6/20/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 6/20/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 6/20/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 6/20/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 6/20/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 6/20/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 6/20/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 6/20/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 6/20/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 6/20/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 6/20/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 6/20/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 6/20/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 6/20/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 6/20/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 6/20/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 6/20/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 6/20/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 6/20/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 6/20/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 6/20/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 6/20/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 6/20/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 5/15/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 5/15/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 5/15/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 5/15/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 5/15/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 5/15/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 5/15/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 5/15/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 5/15/2023 6.90 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFDoA 5/15/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 5/15/2023 4.10 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFUnA 5/15/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 5/15/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 5/15/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 5/15/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 5/15/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 5/15/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 5/15/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 5/15/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 5/15/2023 5.40 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
4:2 FTS 5/15/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 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 Rahway 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 NJ2013001 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 Rahway 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
2021 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 2 SDWIS / NJ2013001 / 7000
2019 Lead and Copper Rule MR 2 SDWIS / NJ2013001 / 5000
2018 TTHM MR 7 SDWIS / NJ2013001 / 2950
2018 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 7 SDWIS / NJ2013001 / 2456
2015 Cryptosporidium MR 2 SDWIS / NJ2013001 / 3015
2013 Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 12 SDWIS / NJ2013001 / 0300
2008 Coliform (TCR) MCL 1 SDWIS / NJ2013001 / 3100
2002 Coliform (TCR) MR 2 SDWIS / NJ2013001 / 3100
2002 Nitrate MR 2 SDWIS / NJ2013001 / 1040
1992 Trichloroethylene MCL 13 SDWIS / NJ2013001 / 2984
1992 Tetrachloroethylene MCL 10 SDWIS / NJ2013001 / 2987

How Rahway Water Department Compares

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

Metric Rahway Water Department New Jersey avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 65 59.8 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 36 6.5 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 4 compounds 78.8% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 27,300 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 Rahway Water Department water safe to drink? ▼
Rahway Water Department (PWS ID: NJ2013001) has 65 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 4 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 27,300 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Rahway Water Department serve? ▼
Rahway Water Department serves 27,300 people in Rahway, New Jersey. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 8,300 service connections.
What type of violations does Rahway Water Department have? ▼
Rahway Water Department has 65 total violations: 36 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 22 monitoring/reporting violations, and 12 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Rahway Water Department water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 4 PFAS compounds in Rahway Water Department's water supply: PFOA, PFHxA, PFPeA, PFBA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Rahway Water Department use? ▼
Rahway 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.
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.

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.