Is Franklin, NJ tap water safe?

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

New Jersey American Water – Short Hills, 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.

3 public water systems serve parts of Franklin. The largest, New Jersey American Water – Short Hills, serves 217,230 people, and 3 systems here had PFAS above a federal limit. Your water bill names your system.

Largest system

New Jersey American Water – Short Hills

217,230 people · Surface water · EPA ID NJ0712001

Buys treated water from Passaic Valley Water Commission, New Jersey American Water – Raritan, Montclair Water Bureau, Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority, East Hanover Township Water Dept.

PFAS	Highest average	Limit	Status
PFOA Above limit	6.53 ppt	4 ppt	Above limit
PFOS One sample above limit	2.48 ppt	4 ppt	One sample above limit
PFHxS Detected, below limit	1.8 ppt	10 ppt	Detected, below limit
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 67% of the New Jersey systems EPA tested.

Lead: 3 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: 0

Full New Jersey American Water – Short Hills 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.

Franklin homes and lead pipes

36%

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

built before 1950 (New Jersey 24%)

31%

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. 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 Franklin 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 Franklin
New Jersey American Water – Short Hills 217,230 people	08528, 08823, 08890
Franklin Township Dept of Public Works 57,150 people	08873

Other water systems serving Franklin

How nearby cities compare

City	Main water system	PFAS	Lead (90th pct.)
North Brunswick 4 mi North Brunswick Water Dept	North Brunswick Water Dept	None above limits	2.4 ppb
New Brunswick 6 mi New Brunswick Water Dept	New Brunswick Water Dept	Above limit	1.78 ppb
South Brunswick 7 mi South Brunswick Township Water Division	South Brunswick Township Water Division	Above limit	0 ppb
East Brunswick 8 mi East Brunswick Water Utility	East Brunswick Water Utility	None above limits	0.4 ppb
Edison 11 mi Edison Water Company	Edison Water Company	None above limits	1.18 ppb
Sayreville 12 mi Sayreville Water Dept	Sayreville Water Dept	Above limit	0.54 ppb

Questions

Is Franklin tap water safe to drink?

New Jersey American Water – Short Hills has had no 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 Franklin, NJ?

3 public water systems serve parts of Franklin. The largest is New Jersey American Water – Short Hills (217,230 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Does Franklin tap water have PFAS?

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

Do Franklin homes have lead pipes?

Census estimates put 36% of Franklin 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. New Jersey American Water – Short Hills'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.