1,4-Dioxane Contamination

1,4-Dioxane in New Jersey Drinking Water

Ranked by max 1,4-dioxane detected (µg/L) · UCMR 3 data (2013–2015) · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

223

Cities Tested

101

Over HA

45%

% Over HA

0.48 µg/L

State Avg

▲ 10% vs national

vs National

331

Health Violations

Analysis

1,4-Dioxane in New Jersey: what the data shows

New Jersey has 223 cities with 1,4-dioxane data from the EPA's UCMR 3 program (2013–2015). 1,4-Dioxane was detected above the 0.35 µg/L EPA health advisory in 101 of those cities. The state average max detected level is 0.48 µg/L. 1,4-Dioxane is a synthetic industrial chemical used as a solvent stabilizer. It enters water supplies primarily from industrial discharge and contaminated groundwater plumes near manufacturing sites, landfills, and military bases. It is highly mobile in groundwater and resistant to biodegradation. The EPA classifies 1,4-dioxane as a likely human carcinogen. Long-term exposure is associated with liver and kidney damage. Advanced oxidation processes (AOP) are the most effective treatment; conventional water treatment and standard carbon filters are generally ineffective against 1,4-dioxane.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 0.35 µg/L EPA HA (no MCL)

New Jersey

45%

101 of 223 cities

→ ▲ 10% above national rate (worse)

National avg

35%

394 of 1124 cities

City Map

1,4-Dioxane data across New Jersey

Each dot is a city with UCMR 3 1,4-dioxane testing data. Cities where 1,4-dioxane exceeds the 0.35 µg/L EPA health advisory are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by 1,4-dioxane level in New Jersey

Highest 1,4-Dioxane levels (µg/L)

All Cities

All New Jersey cities ranked by 1,4-dioxane level

#	City	Level	Over HA?	Violations	Grade
1	Washington Boro-2121	5.83 µg/L	Over HA	0	B+
2	Burlington Twp.-0306	5.60 µg/L	Over HA	25	F
3	Burlington Twp.-0306	5.60 µg/L	Over HA	8	C-
4	Burlington Twp.-0306	5.60 µg/L	Over HA	8	C-
5	Camden City-0408	5.60 µg/L	Over HA	8	C+
6	Berkeley Twp.-1505	5.40 µg/L	Over HA	2	C+
7	Fair Lawn Boro-0217	3.24 µg/L	Over HA	8	F
8	Sparta Twp.-1918	2.70 µg/L	Over HA	11	F
9	Collingswood Boro-0412	2.40 µg/L	Over HA	4	B+
10	Franklin Twp.-1808	1.51 µg/L	Over HA	16	D+
11	Franklin Twp.-1808	1.51 µg/L	Over HA	1	B
12	East Hanover Twp.-1410	1.40 µg/L	Over HA	8	C+
13	Summit City-2018	1.20 µg/L	Over HA	10	C
14	Gloucester City-0414	1.10 µg/L	Over HA	2	A-
15	Elizabeth City- 2004	1.00 µg/L	Over HA	6	F
16	Elizabeth City- 2004	0.93 µg/L	Over HA	8	C-
17	Woodbury City-0822	0.79 µg/L	Over HA	0	B
18	Garfield City-0221	0.74 µg/L	Over HA	13	B
19	West Caldwell Boro-0721	0.70 µg/L	Over HA	3	C
20	West Deptford Twp.-0820	0.66 µg/L	Over HA	2	B
21	Pennsville Twp.-1708	0.61 µg/L	Over HA	5	C-
22	Summit City-2018	0.60 µg/L	Over HA	5	D+
23	Summit City-2018	0.60 µg/L	Over HA	2	F
24	Summit City-2018	0.60 µg/L	Over HA	2	D+
25	Mendham Twp.-1419	0.60 µg/L	Over HA	2	D+
26	Mendham Twp.-1419	0.60 µg/L	Over HA	2	C-
27	Mendham Twp.-1419	0.60 µg/L	Over HA	2	C-
28	Mendham Twp.-1419	0.60 µg/L	Over HA	2	C-
29	Pompton Lakes Boro-1609	0.53 µg/L	Over HA	0	C
30	Phillipsburg Town-2119	0.52 µg/L	Over HA	0	B+
31	Freehold Twp.-1316	0.50 µg/L	Over HA	13	B-
32	Freehold Twp.-1316	0.50 µg/L	Over HA	2	B
33	Freehold Twp.-1316	0.50 µg/L	Over HA	8	D+
34	Freehold Twp.-1316	0.50 µg/L	Over HA	3	B-
35	Freehold Twp.-1316	0.50 µg/L	Over HA	1	B
36	Freehold Twp.-1316	0.50 µg/L	Over HA	22	F
37	Freehold Twp.-1316	0.50 µg/L	Over HA	4	C
38	Freehold Twp.-1316	0.50 µg/L	Over HA	4	C
39	Freehold Twp.-1316	0.50 µg/L	Over HA	4	C
40	Freehold Twp.-1316	0.50 µg/L	Over HA	6	F
41	Freehold Twp.-1316	0.50 µg/L	Over HA	3	C-
42	Freehold Twp.-1316	0.50 µg/L	Over HA	9	C+
43	Freehold Twp.-1316	0.50 µg/L	Over HA	1	B+
44	Freehold Twp.-1316	0.50 µg/L	Over HA	1	B+
45	Freehold Twp.-1316	0.50 µg/L	Over HA	1	B+
46	Freehold Twp.-1316	0.50 µg/L	Over HA	1	B+
47	Freehold Twp.-1316	0.50 µg/L	Over HA	1	B+
48	Freehold Twp.-1316	0.50 µg/L	Over HA	1	B+
49	Freehold Twp.-1316	0.50 µg/L	Over HA	1	B+
50	Freehold Twp.-1316	0.50 µg/L	Over HA	1	B+
51	Freehold Twp.-1316	0.50 µg/L	Over HA	1	B+
52	Freehold Twp.-1316	0.50 µg/L	Over HA	1	B+
53	Freehold Twp.-1316	0.50 µg/L	Over HA	1	B+
54	Freehold Twp.-1316	0.50 µg/L	Over HA	1	B+
55	Freehold Twp.-1316	0.50 µg/L	Over HA	1	B+
56	Freehold Twp.-1316	0.50 µg/L	Over HA	1	B+
57	Freehold Twp.-1316	0.50 µg/L	Over HA	1	B+
58	Burlington Twp.-0306	0.47 µg/L	Over HA	1	B-
59	Oakland Boro-0242	0.47 µg/L	Over HA	2	B-
60	Parsippany Troy-Hills-1429	0.46 µg/L	Over HA	5	F
61	Burlington Twp.-0306	0.43 µg/L	Over HA	2	C+
62	Point Pleasant Boro-1524	0.41 µg/L	Over HA	2	C-
63	Burlington Twp.-0306	0.39 µg/L	Over HA	1	B-
64	Burlington Twp.-0306	0.39 µg/L	Over HA	0	B-
65	Burlington Twp.-0306	0.39 µg/L	Over HA	5	F
66	Burlington Twp.-0306	0.39 µg/L	Over HA	0	C+
67	Burlington Twp.-0306	0.39 µg/L	Over HA	1	B-
68	Burlington Twp.-0306	0.39 µg/L	Over HA	0	C+
69	Burlington Twp.-0306	0.39 µg/L	Over HA	0	B
70	Burlington Twp.-0306	0.39 µg/L	Over HA	0	B
71	Burlington Twp.-0306	0.39 µg/L	Over HA	0	B
72	Burlington Twp.-0306	0.39 µg/L	Over HA	0	B
73	Burlington Twp.-0306	0.39 µg/L	Over HA	0	B
74	Burlington Twp.-0306	0.39 µg/L	Over HA	0	B
75	Burlington Twp.-0306	0.39 µg/L	Over HA	0	B
76	Burlington Twp.-0306	0.39 µg/L	Over HA	0	B
77	Burlington Twp.-0306	0.39 µg/L	Over HA	0	B
78	Burlington Twp.-0306	0.39 µg/L	Over HA	0	B
79	Burlington Twp.-0306	0.39 µg/L	Over HA	0	B
80	Burlington Twp.-0306	0.39 µg/L	Over HA	0	B
81	Burlington Twp.-0306	0.39 µg/L	Over HA	0	B
82	Burlington Twp.-0306	0.39 µg/L	Over HA	0	B
83	Burlington Twp.-0306	0.39 µg/L	Over HA	0	B
84	Burlington Twp.-0306	0.39 µg/L	Over HA	0	B
85	Burlington Twp.-0306	0.39 µg/L	Over HA	0	B
86	Burlington Twp.-0306	0.39 µg/L	Over HA	0	B
87	Burlington Twp.-0306	0.39 µg/L	Over HA	0	B
88	Burlington Twp.-0306	0.39 µg/L	Over HA	0	B
89	Burlington Twp.-0306	0.39 µg/L	Over HA	0	B
90	Burlington Twp.-0306	0.39 µg/L	Over HA	0	B
91	Burlington Twp.-0306	0.39 µg/L	Over HA	0	B
92	Burlington Twp.-0306	0.39 µg/L	Over HA	0	B
93	Burlington Twp.-0306	0.39 µg/L	Over HA	0	B
94	Absecon City-0101	0.36 µg/L	Over HA	9	C-
95	Absecon City-0101	0.36 µg/L	Over HA	22	F
96	Absecon City-0101	0.36 µg/L	Over HA	4	B-
97	Absecon City-0101	0.36 µg/L	Over HA	0	A-
98	Absecon City-0101	0.36 µg/L	Over HA	0	A-
99	Absecon City-0101	0.36 µg/L	Over HA	0	A-
100	Absecon City-0101	0.36 µg/L	Over HA	0	A-
101	Ramsey Boro-0248	0.36 µg/L	Over HA	56	F
102	Perth Amboy City--1216	0.34 µg/L	No	8	C+
103	East Windsor Twp.-1101	0.32 µg/L	No	1	A-
104	Madison Boro-1417	0.32 µg/L	No	7	B-
105	Willingboro Twp.-0338	0.32 µg/L	No	1	B
106	Woodbridge Twp.-1225	0.27 µg/L	No	1	B
107	Spring Lake Boro-1348	0.26 µg/L	No	0	A-
108	Wall Twp.-1352	0.26 µg/L	No	5	C+
109	South River Boro-1223	0.25 µg/L	No	7	F
110	Little Falls Twp.-1605	0.24 µg/L	No	12	B
111	Hillside Twp.-2007	0.24 µg/L	No	32	C
112	Hillside Twp.-2007	0.24 µg/L	No	32	C
113	Summit City-2018	0.24 µg/L	No	42	F
114	Summit City-2018	0.24 µg/L	No	1	B
115	Summit City-2018	0.24 µg/L	No	0	C-
116	Summit City-2018	0.24 µg/L	No	3	B-
117	Summit City-2018	0.24 µg/L	No	0	B+
118	Summit City-2018	0.24 µg/L	No	0	B+
119	Summit City-2018	0.24 µg/L	No	0	B+
120	Summit City-2018	0.24 µg/L	No	0	B+
121	Summit City-2018	0.24 µg/L	No	12	F
122	Summit City-2018	0.24 µg/L	No	0	B+
123	Summit City-2018	0.24 µg/L	No	0	B+
124	Summit City-2018	0.24 µg/L	No	0	B+
125	Summit City-2018	0.24 µg/L	No	0	B+
126	Summit City-2018	0.24 µg/L	No	0	B+
127	Summit City-2018	0.24 µg/L	No	0	B+
128	Summit City-2018	0.24 µg/L	No	0	B+
129	Summit City-2018	0.24 µg/L	No	0	B+
130	Summit City-2018	0.24 µg/L	No	0	B+
131	Summit City-2018	0.24 µg/L	No	0	B+
132	Summit City-2018	0.24 µg/L	No	0	B+
133	Summit City-2018	0.24 µg/L	No	0	B+
134	Summit City-2018	0.24 µg/L	No	0	B+
135	Rockaway Twp.-1435	0.24 µg/L	No	8	F
136	Lyndhurst Twp-0232	0.23 µg/L	No	2	B+
137	Bordentown Twp.-0304	0.22 µg/L	No	17	C
138	Bordentown Twp.-0304	0.22 µg/L	No	14	B-
139	Bordentown Twp.-0304	0.22 µg/L	No	14	B-
140	Ridgewood Twp-0251	0.21 µg/L	No	12	D+
141	Mahwah Twp-0233	0.21 µg/L	No	2	C-
142	Wall Twp.-1352	0.20 µg/L	No	1	B
143	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.19 µg/L	No	4	D
144	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.19 µg/L	No	4	D
145	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.19 µg/L	No	4	D
146	Rahway City-2013	0.19 µg/L	No	12	B
147	Hillsdale Boro-0227	0.19 µg/L	No	2	C+
148	Hillsdale Boro-0227	0.19 µg/L	No	2	C+
149	Orange City-0717	0.16 µg/L	No	5	C+
150	North Arlington Boro-0239	0.16 µg/L	No	7	B+
151	Haledon Boro-1603	0.16 µg/L	No	22	C+
152	Montclair Town-0713	0.14 µg/L	No	1	B
153	Sayreville Boro-1219	0.14 µg/L	No	2	B
154	Vineland City-0614	0.14 µg/L	No	70	F
155	Elmwood Park Boro-0211	0.14 µg/L	No	12	B-
156	Hawthorne Boro-1604	0.14 µg/L	No	3	D+
157	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.13 µg/L	No	4	C+
158	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.13 µg/L	No	4	D+
159	Denville Twp.-1408	0.12 µg/L	No	4	F
160	Barnegat Twp.-1533	0.11 µg/L	No	5	C+
161	Deptford Twp.-0802	0.11 µg/L	No	3	B-
162	Verona Boro-0720	0.11 µg/L	No	5	F
163	Monroe Twp.-0811	0.10 µg/L	No	9	C
164	Ringwood Boro-1611	0.10 µg/L	No	19	F
165	Beachwood Boro-1504	0.10 µg/L	No	0	B-
166	Nutley Town-0716	0.10 µg/L	No	13	C
167	Edison Twp.-1205	0.09 µg/L	No	4	B-
168	Clinton Town -1005	0.09 µg/L	No	2	D
169	Hillside Twp.-2007	0.09 µg/L	No	35	F
170	Mount Holly Twp.-0323	0.08 µg/L	No	0	B+
171	Winslow Twp.-0436	0.08 µg/L	No	37	F
172	Totowa Boro-1612	0.07 µg/L	No	1	B-
173	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
174	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
175	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
176	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
177	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
178	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
179	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
180	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
181	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
182	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
183	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
184	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
185	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
186	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
187	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
188	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
189	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
190	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
191	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
192	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
193	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
194	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
195	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
196	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
197	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
198	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
199	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
200	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
201	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
202	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
203	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
204	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
205	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
206	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
207	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
208	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
209	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
210	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
211	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
212	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
213	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
214	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
215	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
216	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
217	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
218	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
219	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
220	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
221	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
222	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-
223	Guttenberg Town-0903	0.07 µg/L	No	2	B-

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about 1,4-dioxane in New Jersey

Is 1,4-dioxane in New Jersey tap water dangerous?

1,4-Dioxane is classified by the EPA as a likely human carcinogen. There is no federal MCL, but the EPA health advisory is 0.35 µg/L. 101 cities in New Jersey exceed the health advisory level. Long-term exposure is associated with liver and kidney damage.

How can I remove 1,4-dioxane from my drinking water?

1,4-Dioxane is one of the most difficult contaminants to remove from water. Standard carbon filters and conventional water treatment are generally ineffective. Advanced oxidation processes (AOP) used by water utilities are the most reliable. At the household level, some high-end reverse osmosis systems may provide partial reduction, but no standard point-of-use filter is certified for 1,4-dioxane removal.

Where does 1,4-dioxane come from in New Jersey water?

1,4-Dioxane is a synthetic industrial chemical primarily used as a solvent stabilizer in chlorinated solvent degreasing operations. It enters water from industrial discharge, contaminated groundwater plumes near manufacturing sites, landfills, and military bases. It is highly water-soluble, does not bind to soil, and resists natural biodegradation, making it a persistent groundwater contaminant.

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