Is Rahway, 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 Rahway Water Department. 4 PFAS were detected below the limits.
Rahway Water Department supplies Rahway (27,300 people).
Water system
Rahway Water Department
27,300 people · Surface water · EPA ID NJ2013001
Buys treated water from Middlesex Water Company, New Jersey American Water – Raritan.
| PFAS | Highest average | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA One sample above limit | 1.72 ppt | 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 (Nov 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.
Rahway 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 Rahway city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Woodbridge 3 mi Middlesex Water Company | None above limits | 0.85 ppb |
| Perth Amboy 6 mi Perth Amboy Water Department | Above limit | 0 ppb |
| Elizabeth 6 mi New Jersey American Water – Raritan | Above limit | 1 ppb |
| Edison 8 mi Edison Water Company | None above limits | 1.18 ppb |
| Irvington 8 mi Newark Water Department | Above limit | 4.03 ppb |
| Maplewood 9 mi New Jersey American Water – Short Hills | Above limit | 3 ppb |
Rahway ZIP codes (1)
- 07065
Questions
Is Rahway tap water safe to drink?
Rahway Water Department 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 Rahway, NJ?
Rahway Water Department, which serves 27,300 people.
Does Rahway tap water have PFAS?
Rahway Water Department had 4 PFAS detected at least once in EPA's 2023–2025 testing, all with averages below the federal limits.
Do Rahway homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 65% of Rahway 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. Rahway 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.