Rockaway, NJ: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 33/100
1 ZIP code · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Rockaway: F.
Federal data flags serious home-safety risks for this ZIP.
Your top priority: see the breakdown below and consider a certified water filter. NSF certified filters →
Systems across Rockaway show elevated violation counts against NJ benchmarks - the low safety grade reflects that ongoing compliance pattern.
How Rockaway Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Rockaway Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 159 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0048 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 71% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $3,000 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 9.89.
Rockaway's Water Providers
At present, 3 utilities serve the bulk of Rockaway, NJ's residential water connections out of 5 systems active in the area, spread across independent providers with separate infrastructure and compliance obligations.
- F
- F
- F
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Rockaway, New Jersey (population ~22,632), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 64,873 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. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Rockaway: 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
Rockaway water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0048 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 | 16 | 1 |
| PFOA | PFAS | 12 | 1 |
| PFNA | PFAS | 12 | 1 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | Disinfection Byproducts | 12 | 1 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | Disinfection Byproducts | 12 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07866 | F | 159 | 0 | Rockaway Twp Water Department |
All ZIP Codes in Rockaway
- 07866 [F] - 159 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.
Rockaway 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 Rockaway's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Rockaway Infrastructure Age
With 71% 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
Heavily weighted toward older construction, Rockaway's housing stock carries a median build year of 1963. That profile puts a majority of homes in the era when lead-soldered copper plumbing was standard practice.
Over half of homes in Rockaway 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 Rockaway
The household financial picture for Rockaway homeowners is proportionally favorable - addressing documented issues claims a small slice of equity, and the cost-to-value ratio puts this area well within the manageable tier.
Remediation costs in Rockaway are relatively low compared to home values. The $2,000–$4,100 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 10% below the New Jersey average.
Rockaway: 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.
When older housing represents 71% of the local inventory or aggregate readings approach the federal action level, an in-home check becomes the standard way to translate citywide averages into the specific reality of an individual Rockaway address.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Rockaway: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Rockaway contains 130 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $17,607. 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>$3,000</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 Rockaway
- 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 Rockaway's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 71% 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 Rockaway, NJ