We read 12 results from Sparta Twp Water Utility - Lake Mohawk’s 2024 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 6 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 17,625 people · Water system ID NJ1918004 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copper90th percentile of 60 homes tested · sampled 2023 · 2024 report, page 2 | 0.88 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Above the health goal2.9x the health goal |
| Gross alpha (radioactivity)highest measured · range 4.9 to 11.4 · sampled 2020 · 2024 report, page 2 | 11.4 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 · sampled 2023 · 2024 report, page 2 | 2.03 ppb | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Above the health goal10x the health goal |
| PFOA (a PFAS)highest running annual average · range 2 to 9.6 · sampled 2022 · 2024 report, page 2 | 8.7 ppt | 0.007 ppt | 14 ppt (New Jersey) now; 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the federal limit that takes effect in 20292.2x 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 2 to 9.8 · sampled 2022 · 2024 report, page 2 | 9 ppt | 1 ppt | 13 ppt (New Jersey) now; 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the federal limit that takes effect in 20292.3x 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 1.5 · sampled 2020 · 2024 report, page 2 | 1.5 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 5 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Bariumhighest measured · range 0.006 to 0.06 · sampled 2023 · 2024 report, page 2 | 0.06 ppm | 2 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range ND to 8 · sampled 2023 · 2024 report, page 2 | 6.8 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range 2 to 30 · sampled 2023 · 2024 report, page 2 | 22 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluoridehighest measured · range ND to 0.14 · sampled 2023 · 2024 report, page 2 | 0.14 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Nitrate (as N)highest measured · range 0.38 to 5.58 · sampled 2023 · 2024 report, page 2 | 5.58 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Nickelhighest measured · range 1 to 4.5 · sampled 2023 · 2024 report, page 2 | 4.5 ppb | 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. 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 Sparta Twp Water Utility - Lake Mohawk’s water between Dec 2023 and Jun 2024. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFOA8.6 pptFound in 18 of 26 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFOS9.3 pptFound in 15 of 26 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFHxS3.5 pptFound in 2 of 26 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
- PFBS12.9 pptFound in 11 of 26 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.
Lead
Found: Copper, Lead
What removes it: Reverse osmosis or Certified carbon block or RO.
Radium and uranium
Found: Gross alpha (radioactivity), Radium (combined 226 + 228)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
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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