Skip to main content
WaterVerge

Water quality report · updated Jul 2026

Is Stillwater Twp.-1920, NJ Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Graded D+, with 23 unresolved violations on record. See what was cited — and what it means for your tap. What to do ↓

0 contaminants over a legal limit
0.0 ppb lead, 90th percentile · low
23 unresolved violations
1K people served by 1 water system

PWSID NJ1920001 · moderate data confidence · local government utility

Reviewed by WaterVerge Editorial Team · Last updated July 2026
D 52 / 100

#359 of 426New Jersey cities
How we grade →

01The verdict: is Stillwater Twp.-1920 water safe?

Stillwater Twp.-1920's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of D+ (52/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,200 residents using groundwater (wells).

The concern

23 unresolved violations on record

EPA records show open compliance items for this system. Most are administrative, but unresolved items are worth watching.

See what was cited ↓
The good news

Lead is well under the limit

90th-percentile lead is 0.0 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.

See the trend ↓
Keep watching

145 violations in the last five years

Recent compliance history is the best predictor of future problems — the year-by-year record is below.

See the record ↓

Stillwater Twp.-1920's drinking water received a grade of D+ (52 out of 100), indicating poor water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,200 residents using groundwater.

Lead levels were measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile), well within EPA limits. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program. The system has 482 violations on record, including 13 health-based violations. 23 remain unresolved.

Stillwater Twp.-1920 ranks #359 out of 426 cities in New Jersey for water quality, placing it among the lowest-rated in the state. Stillwater Twp.-1920 relies on groundwater, which is generally less vulnerable to surface contamination but can be affected by naturally occurring minerals like arsenic and nitrate, as well as agricultural and industrial runoff. As a small community water system, Stillwater Twp.-1920 may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities. The system has seen 145 violations in the past five years, suggesting a pattern of compliance challenges that residents should monitor closely.

How the 52/100 breaks down Methodology →
ViolationsHistorical violation record including health-based and monitoring violations.
0 / 45F
Lead & CopperLead at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile).
20 / 20A
ContaminantsPFAS + legacy contaminant analysis.
17 / 20B
ComplianceMonitoring and reporting compliance with EPA regulations.
10 / 10A
Source RiskWater source: Groundwater.
5 / 5A

02What's in Stillwater Twp.-1920's water

Every contaminant flagged in Stillwater Twp.-1920, on one shared scale: distance to its own legal limit. The red line is the limit — anything past it is out of compliance, and the closer a bar gets, the less headroom the system has.

1 detection · sorted by % of legal limit
Over the limit Elevated — watch Within limits
0 50% LEGAL LIMIT 150%
1 contaminant tested under EPA SDWIS, LCR and UCMR programs · 1 detected · not yet tested for PFAS under UCMR 5

Full contaminants report

Contaminant Detected Level EPA Limit Unit Category Status
Lead (90th percentile) 0.0 15 ppb Inorganic Safe
Data source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, local utility CCR.

03Stillwater Twp.-1920's ten-year track record

Each box is one year. A green check means no EPA violations; a numbered badge counts that year's violations — red if any were health-based, amber if they were monitoring or paperwork issues. The system has 482 violations on record, including 13 health-based violations. 23 remain unresolved.

1 of the last ten years was clean. The numbered years had EPA violations — red when any were health-based, amber when they were paperwork or missed-testing issues.

1 health-based in 10 yrs 251 monitoring & paperwork 16 still unresolved
UpdateWater quality data updatedLatest EPA compliance and testing data incorporated into Stillwater Twp.-1920's water quality assessment. Grade: D+ (52/100).
Violation5 drinking water violations recordedContaminants: E. COLI.Open
Violation10 drinking water violations recordedContaminants: ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE, 1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE.Resolved
Violation2 drinking water violations recordedContaminants: Nitrate.Resolved
DisasterREMNANTS OF HURRICANE IDAFederal disaster declaration (FEMA DR-4614). Hurricane event — may have impacted local water infrastructure.
DisasterREMNANTS OF HURRICANE IDAFederal disaster declaration (FEMA DR-3573). Hurricane event — may have impacted local water infrastructure.
Lead, 90th percentileppb · lower is better
05101520EPA action level · 15 ppb1993 — 1 ppb1994 — 1 ppb1995 — 2 ppb1996 — 3 ppb1997 — 2 ppb2000 — 4 ppb2003 — 3 ppb2006 — 2 ppb2012 — 4.5 ppb2015 — 3 ppb2018 — 7 ppb2021 — 11 ppb2024 — 0 ppb1019931996200320152024

Down 1 ppb since 1993. Latest reading: 0 ppb (2024) — 0% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).

04Where Stillwater Twp.-1920's water comes from

Stillwater Twp.-1920's drinking water is drawn from underground aquifers through wells.

Source

Groundwater

Underground aquifers reached by wells — naturally filtered, but can carry minerals like arsenic and nitrate.

Treatment

Local treatment

Groundwater generally needs less treatment — typically disinfection and, where needed, mineral removal.

Distribution

1 system

1 water system, operated under local government ownership.

Delivery

1,200 people

Residents served across Stillwater Twp.-1920's service area.

Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil layers, generally requiring less treatment than surface water. However, it can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and minerals. Agricultural activity, septic systems, and industrial operations near well fields can introduce nitrates, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds. The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 1,200 people through 1 water system.

System namePWSIDPopulationSource
STILLWATER WATER DISTRICT 1 NJ1920001 1,200 Groundwater

Water bodies near Stillwater Twp.-1920

Rockaway River At Berkshire Valley · river South Branch Raritan River At Four Bridges · river Lamington (Black) River At Succasunna · river Lamington (Black) River Near Ironia · river Lamington (Black) River Near Pottersville · river

These water bodies shape the regional watershed and can indirectly affect groundwater quality.

05Pressure on Stillwater Twp.-1920's watershed

Outside forces that shape what reaches the treatment plant. None of these is a verdict on the tap by itself — but each adds pressure worth knowing about.

Flood & storm history

Recurring — declared disasters

10 federal disaster declarations on record for Morris County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.

REMNANTS OF HURRICANE IDA Sep 2021 · DR-4614
REMNANTS OF HURRICANE IDA Sep 2021 · DR-3573
TROPICAL STORM ISAIAS Dec 2020 · DR-4574

06How Stillwater Twp.-1920 compares

Scores for nearby New Jersey cities on one line, with the average marked.

Stillwater Twp.-1920 (this city)
52 · D+

dashed line = New Jersey average (72/100)

Stillwater Twp.-1920 scores 52/100below the New Jersey average of 72/100. Full New Jersey rankings →

Sussex water quality rankings
Compare all cities in the county — grades, violations, and contaminant data side by side.

07What to do at home

Steps matched to what testing actually found in Stillwater Twp.-1920's water — not generic advice.

Extra protection

A basic carbon filter still helps

Stillwater Twp.-1920's water meets federal standards, but a simple carbon filter improves taste and adds a margin of safety against short-term issues.

Compare tested filters →
Know your report

Read your utility's annual report

Every utility must publish a yearly Consumer Confidence Report with its own testing results. It pairs well with the independent data on this page.

How to read a CCR →
Stay informed

Watch for Stillwater Twp.-1920 alerts

This area has a history of flood declarations — after severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories from the utility, and check the live alerts on this page.

All water alerts →

Frequently asked questions

Is Stillwater Twp.-1920, NJ tap water safe to drink?

Stillwater Twp.-1920's water quality earned a grade of D+ (52/100). Significant issues have been found. A water filter is strongly recommended. The city ranks #359 out of 426 cities tested in New Jersey.

What contaminants are in Stillwater Twp.-1920's water?

Lead was measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile). 482 violations are on record.

How is Stillwater Twp.-1920's water quality grade calculated?

The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.

Do I need a water filter in Stillwater Twp.-1920?

Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.

Where does Stillwater Twp.-1920's water come from?

Stillwater Twp.-1920's water is sourced from Groundwater. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 1,200 residents.

What health violations has Stillwater Twp.-1920's water system had?

Stillwater Twp.-1920 has 13 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in December 2025. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 23 violations remain unresolved.

Is Stillwater Twp.-1920's groundwater at risk of contamination?

Stillwater Twp.-1920 uses groundwater, which can be affected by naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate, as well as agricultural runoff and industrial activity. The system has 482 violations on record that may relate to groundwater quality. Groundwater systems are generally less susceptible to surface contamination but should be monitored for emerging contaminants like PFAS.

How does Stillwater Twp.-1920's water compare to other cities?

Stillwater Twp.-1920 ranks #359 out of 426 cities in New Jersey (better than 16% of state cities) and #12603 out of 15382 cities nationally (18th percentile). The grade of D+ reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.

Does Stillwater Twp.-1920's small water system affect quality?

Stillwater Twp.-1920's system serves approximately 1,200 residents. Small community water systems (under 3,300 people) may have fewer financial resources for infrastructure upgrades and advanced treatment technologies. However, they are held to the same EPA drinking water standards as larger systems. This system has 482 violations on record.

Share this reportHelp others learn about their water quality
WhatsAppXFacebookLinkedInEmail
About Stillwater Twp.-1920, NJ: Budd Lake is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Mount Olive Township, in Morris County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the CDP's population was 9,784, its highest decennial census count ever and an increase of 816 (+9.1%) from the 8,968 enumerated at the 2010 census, which in turn reflected an increase of 868 (+10.7%) from the 8,100 counted in the 2000 census. Budd Lake was named for John Budd. Prior to that, it was called Hattacawanna Lake. Median household income $99,303 · median home value $397,176 · median age 37.3 · 75.1% homeowners · 47% college educated. Wikipedia → Sources: EPA SDWIS & ECHO · UCMR 3–5 · Lead & Copper Rule samples · EPA TRI · U.S. Drought Monitor · FEMA declarations. Data last updated Jul 2026. Analysis by the WaterVerge Editorial Team · methodology.