Is Belleville, NJ tap water safe?

Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it

Newark Water Department, the largest system here, had PFAS above the 2024 federal limits (PFOA) in EPA's 2023–2025 testing.

Is it an emergency? No: PFAS limits are about years of exposure, not a glass of water, and nothing in EPA's data calls for you to stop drinking the water today. If your utility issues a boil-water or do-not-drink notice, follow it.

2 public water systems serve parts of Belleville. The largest, Newark Water Department, serves 294,274 people, and one system here had PFAS above a federal limit. Your water bill names your system.

Largest system

Newark Water Department

294,274 people · Surface water · EPA ID NJ0714001

Buys treated water from Belleville Water Dept, N.J.D.W.S.C. – Wanaque North Water System.

PFAS	Highest average	Limit	Status
PFOA Above limit	4.8 ppt	4 ppt	Above limit
PFOS Not detected	–	4 ppt	Not detected
PFHxS Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected
PFNA Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected
HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected

ppt = parts per trillion. "Highest average" is the highest average at any of the system's entry points, the way EPA compares results with the limits.

For context: the PFOA average is higher than at 57% of the New Jersey systems EPA tested.

Lead: 4.03 ppb at the 90th percentile (Nov 2026, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 20

Full Newark Water Department results

Across New Jersey, 110 of 245 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 4 systems were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. New Jersey results.

Belleville homes and lead pipes

83%

of homes built before 1980 (New Jersey 63%, US 50%)

48%

built before 1950 (New Jersey 24%)

44%

of households rent (New Jersey 36%)

Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. Newark Water Department publishes a service line inventory you can search by address. Look up your address. Renting? Ask your landlord what the service line is made of, because it's their pipe to replace. How to check your own line.

Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Belleville township (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.

Other water systems serving Belleville

Belleville Water Dept
35,129 people · Purchased surface water · New Jersey · lists this city
Coliform bacteria violationsAlso: Haloacetic acids (HAA5) violations · Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) violations

How nearby cities compare

City	Main water system	PFAS	Lead (90th pct.)
Bloomfield 2 mi Newark Water Department	Newark Water Department	Above limit	4.03 ppb
Nutley 2 mi Nutley Water Dept	Nutley Water Dept	None above limits	0.55 ppb
East Orange 3 mi Newark Water Department	Newark Water Department	Above limit	4.03 ppb
Montclair 3 mi Montclair Water Bureau	Montclair Water Bureau	None above limits	0 ppb
Kearny 3 mi Kearny Water Department	Kearny Water Department	None above limits	3.28 ppb
City of Orange 4 mi Orange Water Dept	Orange Water Dept	Above limit	2.02 ppb

Belleville ZIP codes (1)

07109

Questions

Is Belleville tap water safe to drink?

Newark Water Department had 20 health-based violations since 2016, and EPA testing found PFAS above the 2024 federal limits, which it must meet by 2029. Utility data can't show lead from your own pipes: if your home was built before 1986, test your tap. Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report is the official summary.

Who supplies water in Belleville, NJ?

2 public water systems serve parts of Belleville. The largest is Newark Water Department (294,274 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Does Belleville tap water have PFAS?

Yes. EPA's 2023–2025 testing found entry-point averages above the 2024 federal limits for PFOA at Newark Water Department. Systems have until 2029 to meet them.

Do Belleville homes have lead pipes?

Census estimates put 83% of Belleville homes as built before 1980 (New Jersey: 63%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. Newark Water Department's service line inventory says what your line is made of. The only way to know for your home is to check the line where it enters the house and test your tap.

Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.