Woodcliff Lake, NJ Water Safety: 55/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 1 water system · Updated 2026-06-04
While Woodcliff Lake avoids NJ's lowest safety tiers, a portion of its water systems have logged documented violations.
How Woodcliff Lake Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-04
Woodcliff Lake Water: The Quick Version
- Homes built before 1986: 65% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,200 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 10.21.
Water Systems Serving Woodcliff Lake
A single utility carries the primary residential water load in Woodcliff Lake, NJ — the dominant provider across 1 federally tracked system.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey (population ~6,097), covering 1 community water system serving approximately 16,466 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Woodcliff Lake — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Woodcliff Lake: C (55/100)
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
Woodcliff Lake water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Lead data: not yet available for Woodcliff Lake
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07677 | C | PARK RIDGE WATER DEPT | 16,466 |
All ZIP Codes in Woodcliff Lake
- 07677 [C]
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 Woodcliff Lake
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 Woodcliff Lake's Housing Stock?
With 65% 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
While newer cities carry lower aggregate plumbing risk from lead-era construction, Woodcliff Lake sits firmly in the older category. The median build year of 1961 indicates that more than half the housing stock was built before 1986, when lead solder was still legally used in residential copper plumbing — and a substantial portion likely predates 1970, when lead pipes were still commonly installed for service lines. These two thresholds together define the elevated plumbing risk environment that older housing cities carry, independent of what the municipal water supply delivers to the meter.
Over half of homes in Woodcliff Lake 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.
Woodcliff Lake: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Remediation costs in Woodcliff Lake are small relative to typical property values — the cost-to-value ratio here is favorable.
Remediation costs in Woodcliff Lake are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,200–$3,400 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 86% above the New Jersey average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Woodcliff Lake
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.
Reading the local data together points toward a structural gap that matters more here than in low-exposure communities. 65% of Woodcliff Lake stock comes from the pre-rule era, and citywide monitoring either approaches or sits beyond the federal benchmark under Lead and Copper Rule sampling. A baseline kit fits the routine-diligence category, with certified filtration available via retailer networks 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 Woodcliff Lake
Taken together, Woodcliff Lake's 33 NFIP flood insurance claims and 100% FEMA flood zone coverage place it in the moderate range of exposure. That middle position has specific implications for water quality. The contamination pathways that flooding can open — surface water overwhelming treatment facility intake, floodwaters infiltrating private wells, distribution pressure changes creating backflow — are not constant risks in a moderate-exposure community. But they do become active during significant flood events, and the claim record here indicates enough of those events to make flood timing an occasional factor in local water quality conversations.
Woodcliff Lake has a moderate flood history with 33 FEMA claims averaging $8,375 per payout. 100% of ZIP codes fall within FEMA flood zones. Flood events can contaminate drinking water and overwhelm treatment systems.
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>$2,200</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 Woodcliff Lake
- 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 65% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Woodcliff Lake, NJ