Nj American Water - Short Hills
EPA ID: NJ0712001 · 217,230 people served · 25 ZIP codes
Right now, Nj American Water - Short Hills shows 4 EPA violations marked active and unresolved — the provider continues to supply approximately 217,230 residents while each finding awaits closure.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Compliance Trajectory
Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months
Violations went from 1 (2022) to 2 (2023). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Nj American Water - Short Hills Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade D
Service Area Demographics
The Nj American Water - Short Hills serves a community with a median household income of $168,690 and an estimated 388,674 residents across its service area. Approximately 72% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?
Nj American Water - Short Hills's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.
About 1% of homes in Essex County, New Jersey rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.
Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 82th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How Nj American Water - Short Hills compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Surface Water Treatment Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Contaminant 1996 at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Total Coliform at 1 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.
Stage 1 DBP Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
PFAS Detected in Service Area
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 170 detections recorded. 49 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 1 exceeds state limits.
Comparable Water Systems
Similar-sized systems in New Jersey
Estimated Remediation Costs
Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system
Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.
System Overview
NJ AMERICAN WATER - SHORT HILLS (EPA ID: NJ0712001) is a community water system in New Jersey that serves approximately 217,230 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 25 ZIP codes across 25 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: D (51/100)
Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.
Violation History
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 11, 2025 | Total Coliform | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| January 1, 2025 | Contaminant 1996 | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| October 1, 2024 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| August 22, 2024 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2024 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Failure | 2 | No |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 2 | No |
| Contaminant 1996 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Total Coliform | Microbiological | 1 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | No |
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
| ZIP Code | Lead Level | Exceeds Limit | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07960 | 0.0321 mg/L | Yes | N/A |
| 07901 | 0.0096 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 07078 | 0.003 mg/L | No | N/A |
Radon Risk in Service Area
Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Need help with your water quality?
Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400
Find the Right Water FilterFree tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.
ZIP Codes Served
Coverage: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by NJ or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.
- 07040 — Maplewood
- 07041 — Millburn
- 07052 — West Orange
- 07059 — Warren
- 07078 — Short Hills
- 07081 — Springfield
- 07111 — Irvington
- 07901 — Summit
- 07920 — Basking Ridge
- 07921 — Bedminster
- 07922 — Berkeley Heights
- 07924 — Bernardsville
- 07926 — Brookside
- 07928 — Chatham
- 07931 — Far Hills
- 07933 — Gillette
- 07935 — Green Village
- 07939 — Lyons
- 07940 — Madison
- 07945 — Mendham
- 07946 — Millington
- 07960 — Morristown
- 07970 — Mount Freedom
- 07974 — New Providence
- 07980 — Stirling
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Nj American Water - Short Hills (NJ0712001) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nj American Water - Short Hills water safe to drink?
Nj American Water - Short Hills has only monitoring/reporting violations, which are procedural in nature. The system meets federal health-based standards.
How many people does Nj American Water - Short Hills serve?
Nj American Water - Short Hills serves approximately 217,230 people across 25 ZIP codes in New Jersey.
Where does Nj American Water - Short Hills get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Detected
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below the current state-enforceable MCL.
Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.
Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →
Lead Service Line Inventory
Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:
Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.
Source: NJDEP Public Community Water Purveyor SLI · Submitted 2024
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.
How Water Systems Appear in Rankings
Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.
- #47 / 50 Highest Exposure Burden (New Jersey)
Frequently Asked Questions
What You Can Do
Test your water
Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →
Contact your utility
Nj American Water - Short Hills (EPA ID: NJ0712001) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.