Trenton, NJ: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 44/100
28 ZIP codes · 4 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Trenton: D.
Several federal signals point to home-safety risks in this ZIP.
Your top priority: consider a certified water filter (5 health violations on record). NSF certified filters →
Compared to NJ averages, Trenton scores below the baseline - health violations appear more frequently than the norm and the city's grade reflects that ongoing shortfall.
How Trenton Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Water Quality Map: Trenton, NJ
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
Safety grade breakdown for Trenton's 13 ZIP codes.
Key Facts for Trenton Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 138 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0056 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $2,550 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 10.65.
Trenton's Water Providers
Residential water service in Trenton, NJ is divided among 3 separate utilities, drawn from 4 systems on file with federal regulators.
- F
- F
- D
Overview
We track home safety data for 28 ZIP codes in Trenton, New Jersey, covering 4 community water systems serving approximately 239,192 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 13 of 28 ZIP codes.
13 of 13 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 5 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Trenton: D (44/100)
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
Trenton water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0056 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 13 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 27 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 1 ZIP code
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 169 | 12 |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 169 | 12 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 169 | 12 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 156 | 12 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 91 | 12 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08620 | D | 114 | 5 | Trenton Water Works |
| 08619 | F | 107 | 4 | Trenton Water Works |
| 08690 | F | 107 | 4 | Aqua Nj - Hamilton Square |
| 08691 | F | 107 | 4 | Aqua Nj - Hamilton Square |
| 08610 | D | 98 | 5 | Trenton Water Works |
| 08608 | D | 91 | 4 | Trenton Water Works |
| 08609 | D | 91 | 4 | Trenton Water Works |
| 08611 | D | 91 | 4 | Trenton Water Works |
| 08618 | F | 91 | 4 | Trenton Water Works |
| 08628 | F | 91 | 4 | Trenton Water Works |
All ZIP Codes in Trenton
- 08601
- 08602
- 08603
- 08604
- 08605
- 08606
- 08607
- 08608 [D] - 91 violations ⚠
- 08609 [D] - 91 violations ⚠
- 08610 [D] - 98 violations ⚠
- 08611 [D] - 91 violations ⚠
- 08618 [F] - 91 violations ⚠
- 08619 [F] - 107 violations ⚠
- 08620 [D] - 114 violations ⚠
- 08625
- 08628 [F] - 91 violations ⚠
- 08629 [D] - 91 violations ⚠
- 08638 [D] - 91 violations ⚠
- 08641 [C] - 24 violations
- 08644
- 08645
- 08646
- 08647
- 08650
- 08666
- 08690 [F] - 107 violations ⚠
- 08691 [F] - 107 violations ⚠
- 08695
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.
Trenton 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 Trenton's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Trenton
Homeowners in Trenton are working with a moderate equity share for documented remediation - the commitment deserves a line in the household budget, not dismissal.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Trenton. The estimated $1,600–$4,093 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 49% below the New Jersey average.
Trenton: 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.
Lead risk in Trenton 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.
Trenton: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Trenton contains 1,815 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $18,006. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 85% 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>$2,550</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 Trenton
- 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 Consumer Confidence Report Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Trenton's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. Homes built before 1986 may have lead solder in pipes. A licensed plumber can assess your risk.
- 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 Trenton, NJ