Oak Ridge, NJ: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 50/100
1 ZIP code · 3 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Oak Ridge: D.
Several federal signals point to home-safety risks in this ZIP.
Your top priority: consider a certified water filter (10 health violations on record). NSF certified filters →
Compared to NJ averages, Oak Ridge scores below the baseline - health violations appear more frequently than the norm and the city's grade reflects that ongoing shortfall.
How Oak Ridge Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Oak Ridge Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 100 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0049 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 62% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $7,020 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 11.71.
Oak Ridge's Water Providers
Residential water in Oak Ridge, NJ is supplied by 3 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 3 water systems in the area, with these providers collectively accounting for the dominant share of household connections.
- D
- D
- D
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Oak Ridge, New Jersey, covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 11,045 people. 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. 10 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Oak Ridge: D (50/100)
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
Oak Ridge water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0049 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 2 (Moderate 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 | 62 | 1 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 42 | 1 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 24 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 14 | 1 |
| Total Coliform | Microbiological | 8 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07438 | D | 100 | 10 | Jefferson Twp W U Milton Sys |
All ZIP Codes in Oak Ridge
- 07438 [D] - 100 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.
Oak Ridge Community Health Snapshot
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
What's in Oak Ridge's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Oak Ridge Infrastructure Age
With 62% 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
Two dates define the high-risk tiers of residential plumbing from a lead standpoint: 1970, before which lead pipes were commonly installed for service connections, and 1986, before which lead solder was standard in copper plumbing. A median build year of 1970 places Oak Ridge's housing distribution well within that older risk zone. The bar chart above breaks down how much of the stock falls into each era - and the pre-1986 share alone represents more than half the residential inventory, making plumbing-era risk a defining characteristic of the local water safety picture.
Over half of homes in Oak Ridge 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.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Oak Ridge
Although the Oak Ridge remediation share is moderate, it remains reachable for most homeowners who plan for the expense in advance.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Oak Ridge. The estimated $4,630–$9,660 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 14% below the New Jersey average.
Oak Ridge: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
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.
Wherever 62% of local housing was built before solder rules changed - as is the case in Oak Ridge - a faucet-level sample closes the gap that aggregate utility data cannot.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Oak Ridge: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Oak Ridge contains 16 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $9,436. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 100% 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>$7,020</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 Oak Ridge
- 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 Oak Ridge's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 62% 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 Oak Ridge, NJ