Is Berkeley, NJ tap water safe?
Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it
Summary
No federal limits exceeded in EPA data for Aqua NJ – Eastern Division. 2 PFAS were detected below the limits.
3 public water systems serve parts of Berkeley. The largest, Aqua NJ – Eastern Division, serves 12,200 people. Your water bill names your system.
Largest system
Aqua NJ – Eastern Division
12,200 people · Groundwater · EPA ID NJ1505002
| PFAS | Highest average | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFOS Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| PFNA Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
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.
Lead: 0 ppb at the 90th percentile (Jun 2026, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 0
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.
Berkeley homes and lead pipes
Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. How to check your own line.
Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Berkeley township (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
Which system serves your ZIP code
Based on the ZIP codes each system reported serving. Boundaries don't follow ZIP lines exactly, so your water bill is the final word.
| System | ZIP codes in Berkeley |
|---|---|
| Aqua NJ – Eastern Division 12,200 people | 08721, 08741, 08757 |
| Shore Water Company 6,600 people | 08752 |
Other water systems serving Berkeley
- Berkeley Township Municipal Utilities Authority11,792 people · Groundwater · New Jersey · lists this cityColiform bacteria violation
- Shore Water Company6,600 people · Groundwater · New Jersey · lists this cityNo PFAS above limits
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Lacey 6 mi Lacey Township Municipal Utilities Authority | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Manchester 10 mi Manchester Township Water Utility – Eastern | None above limits | 0.4 ppb |
| Barnegat 11 mi Barnegat Township Water Sewer | None above limits | 0.7 ppb |
| Brick 11 mi New Jersey American Water – Coastal North | Above limit | 2 ppb |
| Lakewood 11 mi New Jersey American Water – Coastal North | Above limit | 2 ppb |
| Stafford 15 mi Stafford Township Water – Beach Haven West | None above limits | 0 ppb |
Questions
Is Berkeley tap water safe to drink?
Aqua NJ – Eastern Division has had no health-based violations since 2016. 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 Berkeley, NJ?
3 public water systems serve parts of Berkeley. The largest is Aqua NJ – Eastern Division (12,200 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.
Does Berkeley tap water have PFAS?
Aqua NJ – Eastern Division had 2 PFAS detected at least once in EPA's 2023–2025 testing, all with averages below the federal limits.
Do Berkeley homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 50% of Berkeley 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. Aqua NJ – Eastern Division'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.