Is West Milford, NJ tap water safe?

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

Butler Water Dept, 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.

15 public water systems serve parts of West Milford. The largest, Butler Water Dept, serves 7,630 people, and one system here had PFAS above a federal limit. Your water bill names your system.

Largest system

Butler Water Dept

7,630 people · Surface water · EPA ID NJ1403001

PFAS	Highest average	Limit	Status
PFOA Above limit	7.22 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 72% of the New Jersey systems EPA tested.

Lead: 0 ppb at the 90th percentile (Dec 2025, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 3

Full Butler Water Dept 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.

West Milford homes and lead pipes

65%

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

21%

built before 1950 (New Jersey 24%)

11%

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. How to check your own line.

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

Other water systems serving West Milford

Veolia Water NJ – Olde Milford Est
1,577 people · Groundwater · New Jersey · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 2 health-based violations since 2016
Veolia Water NJ Bald Eagle Commons
1,444 people · Groundwater · New Jersey · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Veolia Water NJ-Bald Eagle Village
1,258 people · Groundwater · New Jersey · lists this city
Lead near 2027 level
Passaic Valley W C High Crest Water System
1,132 people · Purchased surface water · New Jersey · lists this city
Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) violations
Veolia Water New Jersey – Crescent Park
700 people · Groundwater · New Jersey · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 1 health-based violation since 2016
Veolia Water New Jersey – Awosting
633 people · Groundwater · New Jersey · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample

8 more systems

Veolia Water NJ Greenbrook Estates
600 people · Groundwater · New Jersey · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Pvwc-Postbrook Water System
458 people · Groundwater · New Jersey · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Veolia Water New Jersey – Birch Hill
180 people · Groundwater · New Jersey · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Complete Care at Milford Manor LLC
165 people · Groundwater · New Jersey · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Wonder Lake Properties I Water System
105 people · Groundwater · New Jersey · lists this city
Nitrate violations
Veolia Water New Jersey – Parkway
92 people · Groundwater · New Jersey · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 1 health-based violation since 2016
Woodland Heights Homeowners Association
55 people · Groundwater · New Jersey · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Reflection Lakes Garden Apartments Water System
40 people · Groundwater · New Jersey · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 8 health-based violations since 2016

How nearby cities compare

City	Main water system	PFAS	Lead (90th pct.)
Mahwah 11 mi Mahwah Water Department	Mahwah Water Department	Above limit	4.38 ppb
Rockaway 12 mi Rockaway Township Water Dept	Rockaway Township Water Dept	Above limit	2.57 ppb
Wayne 13 mi Township of Wayne	Township of Wayne	None above limits	2.93 ppb
Ridgewood 17 mi Ridgewood Water	Ridgewood Water	Above limit	2.61 ppb
Parsippany-Troy Hills 17 mi Parsippany-Troy Hills Water Department	Parsippany-Troy Hills Water Department	Above limit	4.2 ppb
Fair Lawn 18 mi Fair Lawn Water Dept	Fair Lawn Water Dept	Above limit	2.5 ppb

West Milford ZIP codes (4)

07421
07435
07460
07480

Questions

Is West Milford tap water safe to drink?

Butler Water Dept had 3 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 West Milford, NJ?

15 public water systems serve parts of West Milford. The largest is Butler Water Dept (7,630 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Does West Milford tap water have PFAS?

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

Do West Milford homes have lead pipes?

Census estimates put 65% of West Milford 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. Butler Water Dept'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.