Nitrate In Drinking Water In New Jersey
What residents of New Jersey need to know about nitrate in drinking water — including how it enters water, which utilities have documented violations, and what steps to take.
Source: EPA SDWIS, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), CDC · Last reviewed: 2025-01-01
Quick Answer
Is nitrate in drinking water a real concern in New Jersey?
Yes — southern New Jersey has historical agricultural land use, high septic system density, and documented nitrate in private wells in the coastal plain aquifer.
Is this mostly a public-water issue, a private-well issue, or both?
Primarily private well users in southern NJ's agricultural and suburban counties; public water systems are monitored by NJDEP.
What is the main reason residents should care?
Southern New Jersey (Salem, Cumberland, Gloucester Counties) has a legacy of agricultural land use — including vegetable farming, nurseries, and orchards — combined with high septic density. These conditions can elevate nitrate in the shallow coastal plain aquifer used by private wells.
Key Facts
| EPA Nitrate MCL | 10 mg/L as N |
| Southern NJ context | Agricultural and high-septic-density counties — Salem, Cumberland, Gloucester |
| Aquifer vulnerability | Shallow coastal plain aquifer susceptible to agricultural and septic nitrate |
| Private wells | Owner's responsibility to test — no automatic monitoring requirement |
| State oversight | New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) |
Why This Matters in New Jersey
New Jersey may be the most densely populated state in the country, but its southern counties are predominantly agricultural and rural. Salem, Cumberland, and Gloucester Counties have significant vegetable and nursery farming operations with fertilizer use, and both historically and currently have high densities of septic systems. The shallow coastal plain aquifer underlying these areas is vulnerable to nitrate from surface agriculture and septic infiltration. NJDEP requires public water systems to monitor and comply with the nitrate MCL; private well users are responsible for testing their own water.
Critical — Infants Under 6 Months
Do not use tap water that exceeds 10 mg/L nitrate-nitrogen to prepare infant formula or feed infants under six months. Boiling will concentrate nitrate — do not boil. Use bottled water or a certified reverse osmosis system (NSF/ANSI 58) until the issue is resolved.
New Jersey Utilities With Nitrate Violation Records
The utilities listed below have at least one nitrate violation on record in EPA's SDWIS database. Violations may be open or resolved — see individual utility pages for current status and risk level.
Nj American Water - Raritan
Elizabeth City- 2004,Monroe Twp.-1213 · 615,430 served
Passaic Valley Water Commission
Little Falls Twp.-1605 · 310,483 served
Newark Water Department
Belleville Town-0701,Bloomfield Town-0702,East Orange City-0705,Hillside Twp.-2007,Irvington Town-0709,Newark-0714 · 294,274 served
Nj American Water - Western
Audubon Boro-0401,Audubon Park Boro-0402,Barrington Boro-0403,Bellmawr Boro-0404,Beverly City-0302,Burlington Twp.-0306,Camden City-0408,Cherry Hill Twp.-0409,Cinnaminson Twp.-0308,Clementon Boro-0411,Delanco Twp.-0309,Delran Twp.-0310,Edgewater Park Twp.-0312,Gibbsboro Boro-0413,Gloucester Twp.-0415,Haddon Heights Boro-0418,Haddon Twp.-0416,Haddonfield Boro-0417,Hi-Nella Boro-0419,Laurel Springs Boro-0420,Lawnside Boro-0421,Lindenwold Boro-0422,Magnolia Boro-0423,Maple Shade Twp.-0319,Moorestown Twp.-0322,Mount Ephraim Boro-0425,Mount Laurel Twp.-0324,Oaklyn Boro-0426,Palmyra Boro-0327,Pennsauken Twp.-0427,Riverside Twp.-0330,Riverton Boro-0331,Runnemede Boro-0430,Somerdale Boro-0431,Stratford Boro-0432,Voorhees Twp.-0434 · 274,291 served
Jersey City Mua
Jersey City-0906 · 262,000 served
Middlesex Water Company
Woodbridge Twp.-1225 · 233,376 served
Wildwood City Water Department
Wildwood City-0514 · 218,472 served
Trenton Water Works
Ewing Twp.-1102,Hamilton Twp.-1103,Hopewell Twp.1106-,Lawrence Twp.-1107,Trenton City-1111 · 217,000 served
Nj American Water - Liberty
Elizabeth City- 2004 · 134,000 served
Nj American Water - Ocean City
Ocean City-0508 · 127,000 served
How Nitrate Gets Into Drinking Water
Agricultural fertilizer and manure runoff
Nitrogen-based fertilizers and animal waste applied to New Jersey cropland can leach into groundwater or run off into surface water supplies. This is the dominant nitrate pathway in most agricultural regions.
Septic system effluent
Failing or poorly sited septic systems release nitrogen-rich wastewater near drinking water wells. Rural areas with high well density and aging septic infrastructure face elevated risk.
Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs)
Large livestock facilities generate significant waste. Lagoon leaks and overapplication of manure to nearby fields can create localized nitrate hotspots in groundwater.
Natural geological deposits
In some regions, naturally occurring nitrogen compounds in soil and bedrock contribute background nitrate levels to groundwater independent of agricultural activity.
Who Should Pay Closest Attention
Private well users in southern New Jersey — particularly in Salem, Cumberland, and Gloucester Counties — should test for nitrate annually. Families with infants using formula mixed with well water are at the greatest risk if levels exceed the MCL.
Households with infants under six months
Pregnant residents
Private well owners in agricultural areas
Households near livestock operations or CAFOs
Rural residents on shallow groundwater wells
Households with older or failing septic systems nearby
How to Check Your Situation in New Jersey
- 1
Identify your water utility. Use the ZIP lookup below or browse the New Jersey utility directory on this site.
- 2
Read your utility's page on this site to see its current risk level and any open nitrate violations.
- 3
Review your utility's most recent Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) — mailed annually or available on the utility's website. It must disclose any MCL exceedances.
- 4
If you are on a private well, arrange testing at a New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP)-certified lab. Your state health department maintains a list of certified labs. Annual testing is recommended in agricultural areas.
- 5
If you have an infant under six months, use bottled water or a certified RO system (NSF/ANSI 58) immediately as a precautionary measure — do not wait for test results if you are in a high-risk area.
- 6
If your utility issues a nitrate exceedance notice, follow their guidance and do not use tap water for infants until the issue is resolved.
Treatment Options
Carbon filters and boiling do not remove nitrate. Only the options below are effective.
NSF/ANSI Standard 58 — Reverse Osmosis
RO systems certified to NSF/ANSI 58 reduce nitrate by 85–95% at the point of use. Under-sink installation required. The most practical residential option for nitrate concerns.
Distillation
Distillation units effectively remove nitrate along with most other dissolved contaminants. Suitable for drinking and cooking water — not whole-house use.
Anion Exchange
Ion exchange systems designed for nitrate removal exchange nitrate ions for chloride on a resin bed. Effective as a point-of-entry system; requires periodic regeneration and monitoring.
Carbon filters do NOT remove nitrate
Standard pitcher filters, faucet filters, and under-sink carbon units — including those certified NSF/ANSI 42 or 53 — do not remove nitrate. Do not use these for nitrate reduction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Pages
Nitrate — National Overview
All U.S. utilities with nitrate records
New Jersey State Overview
All utilities and water quality data
Lead in Drinking Water
A separate but common concern
Reverse Osmosis Guide
Removes 85–95% of nitrate
Well Water Guide
Private well testing and safety
All Contaminants
Complete reference library
Data Sources & Provenance
All data on this page is sourced from official U.S. government or public datasets.