West Milford, NJ: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 58/100
1 ZIP code · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for West Milford: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
West Milford lands in the middle of the grade scale in NJ; EPA records can differ from one service area to the next.
How West Milford Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About West Milford Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 25 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.019 mg/L. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L applies to each water system's own 90th percentile, not to this average.
- Homes built before 1986: 75% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $5,000 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 11.71.
Who Supplies Your Water in West Milford
Among 5 systems linked to West Milford, NJ, the 3 biggest by population served appear below.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in West Milford, New Jersey, covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 14,440 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. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for West Milford: C (58/100)
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
West Milford water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0190 mg/L (exceeds EPA action level) (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 1 of 1 ZIP code with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
1 of 1 ZIP records with known zones is in EPA Radon Zone 2.
The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Reporting | 4 | 1 |
| 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene | Organic | 2 | 1 |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | Organic | 2 | 1 |
| Xylenes, Total | Organic | 2 | 1 |
| Dichloromethane | Organic | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07480 | C | 25 | 0 | Veolia Water Nj - Olde Milford Est |
All ZIP Codes in West Milford
- 07480 [C] - 25 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.
Health Outcomes in West Milford
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). County health indicators are shown for context only and are not linked to this area's water records.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
Top Contaminants in West Milford Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in West Milford
With 75% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. Federal law banned lead solder in drinking-water plumbing in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Ask the water utility whether your address in West Milford has a lead service line; its inventory can answer what a median build year of 1961 cannot.
Over half of homes in West Milford were built before 1986, when federal law began restricting lead solder in drinking-water plumbing. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for West Milford Homeowners
Set against the median home value, the remediation estimate for West Milford lands in the middle of three tiers - above 1% but no higher than 2%.
Estimated remediation costs in West Milford can be compared with local home values. The estimated $3,300–$6,800 range is a planning estimate; get a property-specific quote and check it against your budget. Home values are 25% below the New Jersey average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in West Milford
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Over 15 micrograms per liter: the mean of West Milford's ZIP-level lead results. Older-than-1986 homes make up 75% of the stock.
1 ZIP code (100% of the city's ZIP records) is served by a water system whose 90th-percentile lead result exceeds the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in West Milford
Historical NFIP data for West Milford contains 112 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $16,849. 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 $5,000 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 West Milford
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. Consider testing your home's tap water for lead, since household plumbing can affect its level.
- Install a certified water filter. For Consumer Confidence Rule, listed in the water-quality records for West Milford: if it is a rule or reporting requirement rather than a contaminant, ask your utility what the record involved; for bacteria, follow any boil-water notice from your utility; for a specific chemical contaminant, check whether a filter is certified to reduce it. Not every contaminant has a consumer filter certification.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 75% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for West Milford, NJ