We read 13 results from City of Camden’s 2024 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 5 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 46,585 people · Water system ID NJ0408001 · 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)highest measured · range ND to 4.81 · sampled 2023 · Treatment plants · 2024 report, page 13 | 4.81 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 15 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Lead90th percentile of 30 homes tested, 0 over the action level · Customer taps · 2024 report, page 11 | 0.93 ppb | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Above the health goal4.7x the health goal |
| PFOA (a PFAS)highest running annual average · range ND to 10.2 · Treatment plants · 2024 report, page 16 | 9.4 ppt | 0.007 ppt | 14 ppt (New Jersey) now; 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the federal limit that takes effect in 20292.4x the 4 ppt federal limit that takes effect in 2029; below the 14 ppt New Jersey limitNot a violation yet: EPA's 4 ppt limit is final, but water systems don't have to meet it until 2029. |
| PFOS (a PFAS)highest running annual average · range ND to 12.8 · Treatment plants · 2024 report, page 16 | 11.5 ppt | 1 ppt | 13 ppt (New Jersey) now; 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the federal limit that takes effect in 20292.9x the 4 ppt federal limit that takes effect in 2029; below the 13 ppt New Jersey limitNot a violation yet: EPA's 4 ppt limit is final, but water systems don't have to meet it until 2029. |
| Radium (combined 226 + 228)highest measured · range ND to 1.22 · sampled 2023 · Treatment plants · 2024 report, page 13 | 1.22 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 5 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Bariumhighest measured · range 0.02 to 0.05 · sampled 2023 · Treatment plants · 2024 report, page 14 | 0.05 ppm | 2 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Chlorinehighest measured · range 0.81 to 2.7 · Distribution system · 2024 report, page 13 | 1.4 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Copper90th percentile of 30 homes tested, 0 over the action level · Customer taps · 2024 report, page 11 | 0.06 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Below the health goal |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range 8.6 to 40 · Site DBP2-1 (highest) · 2024 report, page 12 | 22.7 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range 23 to 80.4 · Site DBP2-4 (highest) · 2024 report, page 12 | 57.1 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Nitrate (as N)highest measured · range 0.7 to 1.7 · Treatment plants · 2024 report, page 14 | 1.7 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| PFNA (a PFAS)highest running annual average · range ND to 6.4 · Treatment plants · 2024 report, page 16 | 5.8 ppt | None set | 13 ppt (New Jersey) now; 10 ppt from 2029 | Below the legal limit |
| Sodiumhighest measured · range 36 to 55 · sampled 2023 · Treatment plants · 2024 report, page 14 | 55 ppm | None set | None | No health 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.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in City of Camden’s water between Jun 2024 and Dec 2024. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFOA10.6 pptFound in 2 of 6 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFOS12.9 pptFound in 2 of 6 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFNA6.2 pptFound in 2 of 6 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
- Lithium30.1 ppbFound in 2 of 6 samples · highest resultAbove EPA’s health reference level of 10 ppb (a guide, not a legal limit)
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 (a PFAS), PFOS (a PFAS), PFOA (EPA testing), PFOS (EPA testing)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
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