Budd Lake, NJ: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 33/100
1 ZIP code · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Budd Lake: F.
Federal data flags serious home-safety risks for this ZIP.
Your top priority: consider a certified water filter (18 health violations on record). NSF certified filters →
Budd Lake's water safety record falls below average in NJ - compliance violations span multiple service areas, and several systems have recorded exceedances that trigger federal notification requirements under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
How Budd Lake Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Budd Lake Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 472 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.007 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 74% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $3,600 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 9.89.
Who Supplies Your Water in Budd Lake
In Budd Lake, NJ, residential water supply is distributed across multiple utilities rather than concentrated in one. The 3 leading providers out of 5 tracked systems each control their own infrastructure, file separate EPA compliance reports, and set independent rate schedules.
- F
- F
- F
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Budd Lake, New Jersey (population ~14,723), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 25,309 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.
1 of 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 18 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Budd Lake: F (33/100)
Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| PFAS MCL Screen | UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
| Annual AQI | EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days |
Water Sources
Budd Lake water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0070 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 1 ZIP code with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 216 | 1 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 76 | 1 |
| Contaminant 2931 | Other | 56 | 1 |
| Contaminant 2946 | Other | 56 | 1 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 44 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07828 | F | 472 | 18 | Hackettstown Mua |
All ZIP Codes in Budd Lake
- 07828 [F] - 472 violations ⚠
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
Health Outcomes in Budd Lake
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
Top Contaminants in Budd Lake Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Budd Lake
With 74% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. The EPA banned lead solder in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
For residents trying to assess tap water risk in Budd Lake, the median build year of 1975 is the starting context. It signals that a majority of homes were constructed before 1986 - the year federal rules prohibited lead solder in new plumbing - and that a significant share likely predates 1970, when lead pipes were still a common choice for residential service connections. Neither risk tier is rare in this housing inventory.
Over half of homes in Budd Lake were built before 1986, when lead solder was banned. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Budd Lake Homeowners
In Budd Lake, property values comfortably outpace what documented remediation typically costs - the equity share is proportionally low.
Remediation costs in Budd Lake are relatively low compared to home values. The $2,300–$5,600 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 10% below the New Jersey average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Budd Lake
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Before the federal solder ban, lead solder was a routine plumbing material, and 74% of the Budd Lake inventory was built in that earlier era - a share large enough to move household-level reads onto the standard list.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Budd Lake
Historical NFIP data for Budd Lake contains 4 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $10,913. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 0% have an A- or V-family dominant rated zone recorded in those historical claims. This is not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory.
How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. The <strong>$3,600</strong> remediation estimate shown here excludes flood insurance and is not derived from NFIP claim count.
Claim count does not establish current property risk. Check the exact address in FEMA's current map and obtain a property-specific insurance quote when relevant.
Source: historical FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim records. No current FEMA property-map designation is asserted.
What You Can Do in Budd Lake
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. NSF-certified test kits cost $20-40 and give results in days.
- Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Stage 1 DBP Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Budd Lake's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 74% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
- Review your water system's CCR. Your utility publishes an annual Consumer Confidence Report with detailed test results. Request it or find it online.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Budd Lake, NJ