Is Montclair, 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 Montclair Water Bureau. 5 PFAS were detected below the limits.
Montclair Water Bureau supplies Montclair (40,150 people).
Water system
Montclair Water Bureau
40,150 people · Purchased surface water · EPA ID NJ0713001
Buys treated water from Passaic Valley Water Commission, N.J.D.W.S.C. – Wanaque North Water System.
| PFAS | Highest average | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA One sample above limit | 3.23 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFOS Detected, below limit | 1 ppt | 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 (Nov 2026, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 1
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.
Montclair homes and lead pipes
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 Montclair township (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Bloomfield 2 mi Newark Water Department | Above limit | 4.03 ppb |
| Nutley 3 mi Nutley Water Dept | None above limits | 0.55 ppb |
| Belleville 3 mi Newark Water Department | Above limit | 4.03 ppb |
| East Orange 4 mi Newark Water Department | Above limit | 4.03 ppb |
| City of Orange 4 mi Orange Water Dept | Above limit | 2.02 ppb |
| Garfield 7 mi Garfield Water Department | Above limit | 3.4 ppb |
Montclair ZIP codes (2)
- 07042
- 07043
Questions
Is Montclair tap water safe to drink?
Montclair Water Bureau had 1 health-based violation 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 Montclair, NJ?
Montclair Water Bureau, which serves 40,150 people.
Does Montclair tap water have PFAS?
Montclair Water Bureau had 5 PFAS detected at least once in EPA's 2023–2025 testing, all with averages below the federal limits.
Do Montclair homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 86% of Montclair 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. Montclair Water Bureau'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.