Mantoloking, NJ Water Safety: 40/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Federal monitoring data for Mantoloking puts the city in NJ's lower safety tier — exceedances show up in multiple utility districts, several systems have met thresholds requiring public notification under the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the compliance deficit has persisted across more than one consecutive reporting cycle, with no clear reversal visible in the most recent data available.
How Mantoloking Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Mantoloking Water: The Quick Version
- Homes built before 1986: 59% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $3,500 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 12.53 — above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Mantoloking
Multiple utilities divide Mantoloking, NJ's water service — 2 leading providers among 2 on the federal register.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Mantoloking, New Jersey (population ~1,371), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 377,820 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Mantoloking — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Mantoloking: D (40/100)
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
Mantoloking water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Lead data: not yet available for Mantoloking
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08738 | D | Nj American Water - Coastal North | 377,613 |
All ZIP Codes in Mantoloking
- 08738 [D]
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 Mantoloking
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
How Old Is Mantoloking's Housing Stock?
With 59% 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
Plumbing risk in older housing is defined by two eras: the pre-1970 period when lead pipes were commonly used for service lines, and the 1970-to-1986 period when lead solder remained standard in copper plumbing until the federal ban. Mantoloking's median build year of 1972 lands in a range where both eras are heavily represented in the housing stock. That creates an elevated aggregate environment for plumbing-related lead exposure — one that city-level water quality averages don't capture, because the risk sits inside individual properties rather than in the distribution system.
Over half of homes in Mantoloking 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.
Mantoloking: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Given current Mantoloking valuations, the remediation-to-property-value ratio is low — most homeowners are looking at a proportionally modest share that fits within routine financial planning.
Remediation costs in Mantoloking are relatively low compared to home values. The $2,200–$5,600 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 193% above the New Jersey average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Mantoloking
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.
Despite citywide averages serving as the standard public reference point, those aggregates cannot resolve what is happening at one specific faucet — and where 59% of Mantoloking homes come from before the solder rule or where utility samples sit at or above the action mark, the gap between system data and faucet reality matters more than it does in lower-exposure communities. An in-home draw closes that gap, with certified filtration through retailer networks available where confirmed faucet results warrant additional measures.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Mantoloking
The National Flood Insurance Program builds its dataset one claim at a time — each filed claim represents a property where flood damage was severe enough to trigger an insurance payout. For Mantoloking, that dataset has accumulated 1329 such events across the program's multi-decade history. 100% of ZIP codes here carry official FEMA flood zone designations, reflecting federal assessments of where flood risk is concentrated. Together, those data points describe a community with a documented, substantial flood exposure — the kind that shapes not just property risk but also the periodic reliability of water supply infrastructure. When flood events reach that scale, treatment systems face peak-load contamination stress, private wells become vulnerable to surface water intrusion, and the distribution network can experience backflow conditions that allow untreated water to re-enter the system.
Mantoloking has a significant flood history with 1,329 FEMA flood insurance claims on record, averaging $118,578 per claim. With 100% of ZIP codes in FEMA-designated flood zones, flood risk is a major concern for homeowners and water quality.
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>$3,500</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.
What You Can Do in Mantoloking
- 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. An NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter removes most common contaminants.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 59% 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 Mantoloking, NJ