Elizabeth, NJ Water Quality Report
Is Elizabeth tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for Elizabeth, New Jersey. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.
Quick Answers
Is Elizabeth tap water safe to drink? Elizabeth tap water meets most federal EPA limits, but PFAS compounds have been detected at an average of 0 ppt across 2 compounds. A certified pitcher filter or reverse osmosis system is recommended for sensitive populations.
What contaminants are in Elizabeth water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Elizabeth water: PFOA (0.01 ppt), PFPeA (0 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.
What filter should I use in Elizabeth? Reverse osmosis removes 90%+ of PFAS, lead, and arsenic. NSF-53 certified pitcher and faucet filters (ZeroWater, Clearly Filtered, LifeStraw) work for smaller households. Skip standard Brita filters for PFAS removal.
Elizabeth Water Quality Summary
EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Elizabeth drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 0.01 ppt across 2 water systems, representing an average of 0 ppt across 2 detected compounds.
Contamination Level: LOW – Low contamination – PFAS detected but at lower levels; monitoring continues.
Top Detected Compounds
- PFOA: 0.01 ppt
- PFPeA: 0 ppt
Lead in Elizabeth Water
EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 29 lead samples for Elizabeth water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.057 mg/L (above the EPA 0.015 mg/L action level). There is no safe level of lead for children; if your home was built before 1986, a certified NSF/ANSI 53 lead-removal filter is recommended.
EPA Violations in Elizabeth
Elizabeth public water systems have 24 health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record, including Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Arsenic, Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Nitrate, Total Organic Carbon. Health-based violations mean a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.
About the Data
These figures come from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR5) testing program, 2023-2025. UCMR5 is the most comprehensive national drinking water survey in US history, covering 66,000+ public water systems. Population of Elizabeth: approximately 137,298.
ZIP Codes Served
What Elizabeth Residents Should Do
- Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
- Install an NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis filter (removes 94-99% of PFAS)
- If you're in a high-exposure group (pregnant, young children), consider a PFAS home test kit
- Review your utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) annually