We read 10 results from Newark Water Department’s 2024 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 3 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 40,000 people · Water system ID DE0000630 · Read the district’s 2024 report (opens in a new tab)
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Results from the 2024 report
Each number is copied from the district’s report and links to the page it’s printed on. Where the report lists several plants, wells or purchased water, the highest is shown.
| Contaminant | Result | Health goal | Legal limit | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross alpha (radioactivity)single sample · listed as a violation in the report · sampled 2022 · Treated water · 2024 report, page 7 | 3.34 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 15 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Lead90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · listed as a violation in the report · sampled 2021 · Customer taps · 2024 report, page 8 | 1 ppb | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Above the health goal5x the health goal |
| Radium (combined 226 + 228)single sample · listed as a violation in the report · sampled 2022 · Treated water · 2024 report, page 7 | 1.8 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 5 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Chlorinehighest measured · range 1 to 1 · listed as a violation in the report · sampled 2023 · Treated water · 2024 report, page 7 | 1 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Copper90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · listed as a violation in the report · sampled 2021 · Customer taps · 2024 report, page 8 | 0.3 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Below the health goal |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range ND to 46.8 · listed as a violation in the report · sampled 2023 · Distribution system · 2024 report, page 8 | 28.5 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range 19.6 to 88.4 · listed as a violation in the report · sampled 2023 · Distribution system · 2024 report, page 8 | 51.3 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluoridehighest measured · range ND to 0.35 · listed as a violation in the report · sampled 2023 · Treated water · 2024 report, page 7 | 0.35 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Nitrate (as N)highest measured · range 0.59 to 5.49 · listed as a violation in the report · sampled 2023 · Treated water · 2024 report, page 7 | 5.49 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| PFHxS (a PFAS)average · range 4.7 to 5.5 · sampled 2023 · Treated water · 2024 report, page 9 | 4.93 ppt | None set | 10 ppt from 2029 | Below the legal limit |
Utility results describe the whole system, measured where water enters the pipes, not your tap. Your home’s plumbing can add lead or copper. 2 numbers we weren’t sure about are held back until a person checks.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in Newark Water Department’s water between Mar 2023 and Dec 2023. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFOA25.3 pptFound in 5 of 6 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFOS7.5 pptFound in 2 of 6 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFHxS5.5 pptFound in 2 of 6 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
- PFBS6.6 pptFound in 2 of 6 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
Source: EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data. The highest single result is shown; one high sample doesn’t mean every glass is that high.
What you can do
Nothing here is an emergency notice: if the district has a violation, it must tell customers directly. If you’d like to lower these at your tap, these are the treatments that remove them, and the catalog shows the models certified for each. Ranking is by certified removal; commissions never change the order.
Radium and uranium
Found: Gross alpha (radioactivity), Radium (combined 226 + 228)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
Lead
Found: Lead
What removes it: Certified carbon block or RO.
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
Found: PFOA (EPA testing), PFOS (EPA testing)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
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