We read 14 results from Orange Water Dept’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 3 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 30,134 people · Water system ID NJ0717001 · Read the district’s 2025 report (opens in a new tab)
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Results from the 2025 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chloridesingle sample · sampled 2023 · Treated water · 2025 report, page 4 | 266 ppm | — | 250 ppm guideline | Above the guideline1.1x the guideline (taste, odor or stains; not a health limit) |
| PFOA (a PFAS)highest running annual average · range ND to 2.27 · listed as a violation in the report · Treated water · 2025 report, page 3 | 2.27 ppt | 0.007 ppt | 14 ppt (New Jersey) now; 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the health goal324x the health goal |
| Total dissolved solidssingle sample · sampled 2023 · Treated water · 2025 report, page 4 | 614 ppm | — | 500 ppm guideline | Above the guideline1.2x the guideline (taste, odor or stains; not a health limit) |
| Bariumsingle sample · listed as a violation in the report · sampled 2023 · Treated water · 2025 report, page 3 | 0.19 ppm | 2 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Chlorineaverage · range 0.71 to 1.75 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 3 | 1.2 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Chromium (total)single sample · listed as a violation in the report · sampled 2023 · Treated water · 2025 report, page 3 | 1.6 ppb | None set | 100 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Copper90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · listed as a violation in the report · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 3 | 0.14 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Below the health goal |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range 6.3 to 13.7 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 3 | 10 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range 21.6 to 37.8 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 3 | 28 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Lead90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · listed as a violation in the report · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 3 | Not detected | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Not detected |
| Nitrate (as N)single sample · listed as a violation in the report · Treated water · 2025 report, page 3 | 0.77 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Hardnesssingle sample · sampled 2023 · Treated water · 2025 report, page 4 | 14.3 gpg (245 ppm) | — | — | Very hard |
| Nickelsingle sample · listed as a violation in the report · sampled 2023 · Treated water · 2025 report, page 3 | 2.6 ppb | None set | None | No health limit |
| Sodiumaverage · range 94 to 149 · Treated water · 2025 report, page 4 | 124 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 Orange Water Dept’s water between Feb 2025 and Aug 2025. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFOA13 pptFound in 4 of 6 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFHxS3.7 pptFound in 1 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.
Salty taste / high TDS
Found: Chloride, Total dissolved solids
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
Found: PFOA (a PFAS), PFOA (EPA testing)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
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