Camden County, New Jersey: drinking water report. Camden County sits across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, home to about 510,000 residents.
Camden County sits across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, home to about 510,000 residents. New Jersey American Water is the primary provider for much of the county, drawing from several groundwater wells and purchasing supplemental water from the city of Camden's surface water system (which takes from the Delaware River). The county's industrial heritage – particularly in Camden and surrounding towns – has left contamination in local groundwater.
New Jersey's strict PFAS MCLs (14 ppt PFOA, 13 ppt PFOS, 13 ppt PFNA) have pushed aggressive monitoring and treatment across Camden County. UCMR5 data shows PFAS detections in multiple county systems. Industrial contamination from manufacturing sites along the Delaware River waterfront, plus legacy military activity, contributes to the county's contamination picture.
According to the New Jersey DEP's 2024 compliance data, three Camden County water systems required treatment upgrades to meet state PFAS standards. Several Superfund sites in the county – including the former Welsbach and General Gas Mantle Company site – add heavy metal contamination to the groundwater picture.
New Jersey's strict regulation means your utility is likely treating for PFAS. But the county's industrial legacy means multiple contaminant types may be present.
Check your water for data specific to your provider. A reverse osmosis system handles the broadest range of Camden County's contaminants. Our water filter guide covers certified options. Pull your detailed report, and visit our New Jersey page for statewide context.
Drinking water is one exposure route. These federal datasets also cover Camden County, NJ.
The EPA places Camden County, NJ in Zone 2 - a moderate-risk category, with a predicted average indoor radon level between 2 and 4 pCi/L. Zone maps predict an area's radon potential from geology and existing indoor readings; they say nothing about a specific house. Testing is the only way to know your own level.
72% of homes in Camden County, NJ were built before 1980, and 24% before 1950. Residential lead paint was banned in 1978, so housing age is the strongest available proxy for lead-paint exposure. This describes the county's housing stock, not any one home.
Modelled annual fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) in Camden County, NJ averages 7.8 µg/m³, within the EPA's annual standard of 9 µg/m³. These are CDC modelled county estimates rather than readings from a specific monitor.
How radon zones work · Air quality by county · Lead exposure guide