Kearny, NJ: 2 Health Violations — 71/100 (2026)
2 ZIP codes · 2 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Residents of Kearny generally live with tap water that beats the NJ safety average on key EPA compliance metrics.
How Kearny Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Kearny Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 8 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0045 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $2,250 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 9.93.
Water Systems Serving Kearny
Residential water in Kearny, NJ is supplied by 2 separate utilities — not one centralized authority. Each of those providers operates under its own service territory boundary, maintains its own distribution infrastructure, and files compliance documentation with the EPA on its own timeline. Federal data counts 2 water systems in the area, with these providers collectively accounting for the dominant share of household connections.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 2 ZIP codes in Kearny, New Jersey (population ~40,570), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 104,664 people region-wide.
2 of 2 ZIP codes (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 2 health-based violations documented.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Kearny: B (71/100)
The score combines three factors:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| Lead Levels | 90th percentile lead concentration vs EPA action level |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
Water Sources
Kearny water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0045 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 2 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
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 | 6 | 2 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 3 | 2 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 3 | 2 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07032 | C | 4 | 1 | Kearny Water Department |
| 07099 | B | 4 | 1 | City of Bayonne |
All ZIP Codes in Kearny
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
Updated daily.
CDC Health Data for Kearny
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
Key Contaminants Detected in Kearny
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Kearny: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Low proportionality — that's the Kearny picture when remediation costs are placed against typical home equity.
Remediation costs in Kearny are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,250–$3,800 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 11% below the New Jersey average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Kearny
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.
Lead risk in Kearny appears low overall, but individual homes may differ. Testing is the only way to confirm your water's lead content.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Kearny
Taken together, Kearny's 286 NFIP flood insurance claims and 50% FEMA flood zone coverage place it in the moderate range of exposure. That middle position has specific implications for water quality. The contamination pathways that flooding can open — surface water overwhelming treatment facility intake, floodwaters infiltrating private wells, distribution pressure changes creating backflow — are not constant risks in a moderate-exposure community. But they do become active during significant flood events, and the claim record here indicates enough of those events to make flood timing an occasional factor in local water quality conversations.
Kearny has a moderate flood history with 286 FEMA claims averaging $113,946 per payout. 50% of ZIP codes fall within FEMA flood zones. Flood events can contaminate drinking water and overwhelm treatment systems.
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. Flood damage can add significantly to the estimated <strong>$2,250</strong> remediation cost per household.
Residents in flood-prone areas should consider flood insurance even outside FEMA zones — over 25% of flood claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas. After any flood event, test your water before drinking.
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data, FEMA flood zone designations.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Kearny, NJ