We read 12 results from South Orange Water Department’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 3 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 16,964 people · Water system ID NJ0719001 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copper90th percentile of 35 homes tested, 0 over the action level · 2025 report, page 4 | 0.39 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Above the health goal1.3x the health goal |
| PFOA (a PFAS)highest running annual average · range 5 to 7 · 2025 report, page 6 | 7 ppt | 0.007 ppt | 14 ppt (New Jersey) now; 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the federal limit that takes effect in 20291.8x 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 3 · 2025 report, page 6 | 3 ppt | 1 ppt | 13 ppt (New Jersey) now; 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the health goal3x the health goal |
| Chloridehighest measured · 2025 report, page 7 | 103 ppm | — | 250 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Chlorineas reported · 2025 report, page 5 | 0.9 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · DBP2-4 · 2025 report, page 5 | 13 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range 23 to 48 · DBP2-2 · 2025 report, page 5 | 41 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Nitrate (as N)highest measured · 2025 report, page 6 | 0.3 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Sulfatehighest measured · 2025 report, page 7 | 55 ppm | — | 250 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Zinchighest measured · range ND to 0.17 · printed as 174 ppb · 2025 report, page 7 | 0.17 ppm | — | 5 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Hardnesshighest measured · 2025 report, page 7 | 12.5 gpg (213 ppm) | — | — | Very hard |
| Sodiumhighest measured · range 38 to 46 · 2025 report, page 7 | 46 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. 1 number we weren’t sure about is held back until a person checks.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in South Orange Water Department’s water between Jun 2024 and Mar 2025. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFOA6.8 pptFound in 4 of 4 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
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.
Copper
Found: Copper
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
Found: PFOA (a PFAS), PFOS (a PFAS), PFOA (EPA testing)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
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