Copper in New Jersey Drinking Water
Ranked by 90th percentile copper level (mg/L) · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR
Copper in New Jersey: what the data shows
New Jersey has 66 cities with copper monitoring data. The state average 90th percentile copper level is 4.460 mg/L, compared to 28.808 mg/L nationally — better than the national average. 66 cities exceed the EPA action level of 1.3 mg/L. Copper in drinking water typically comes from corrosion of copper pipes and plumbing fixtures, particularly in older homes. The EPA action level of 1.3 mg/L is the 90th percentile threshold — if more than 10% of tap samples exceed it, utilities must take corrective action including adjusting water chemistry to reduce corrosivity. Short-term copper exposure above the action level can cause gastrointestinal distress. Long-term exposure at elevated levels is associated with liver and kidney damage. Flushing your tap for 30 seconds before use and using an NSF 53-certified filter can reduce copper exposure.
Cities exceeding 1.3 mg/L EPA Action Level
Copper data across New Jersey
Each dot is a city, colored by overall water quality grade. Cities with copper levels above the 1.3 mg/L EPA action level are highlighted. Size reflects population served.
Top 10 cities by copper level in New Jersey
All New Jersey cities ranked by copper level
| # | City | Level | Level | Exceeds? | Violations | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hamilton Twp-0112 | 149.876 mg/L | Yes | 4 | C+ | |
| 2 | Absecon City-0101 | 9.935 mg/L | Yes | 4 | B- | |
| 3 | Middle Twp.-0506 | 7.550 mg/L | Yes | 2 | D | |
| 4 | Fairfield Twp.-0605 | 4.895 mg/L | Yes | 7 | F | |
| 5 | Pittsgrove Twp.-1710 | 3.753 mg/L | Yes | 76 | D | |
| 6 | Manchester Twp.-1518 | 3.540 mg/L | Yes | 23 | F | |
| 7 | Waterford Twp.-0435 | 3.420 mg/L | Yes | 1 | B+ | |
| 8 | Freehold Twp.-1316 | 2.980 mg/L | Yes | 17 | D+ | |
| 9 | Alpha Boro-2102 | 2.630 mg/L | Yes | 5 | C- | |
| 10 | Absecon City-0101 | 2.620 mg/L | Yes | 9 | C- | |
| 11 | Rockaway Twp.-1435 | 2.610 mg/L | Yes | 8 | F | |
| 12 | Absecon City-0101 | 2.580 mg/L | Yes | 22 | F | |
| 13 | Delaware Twp.-1007 | 2.500 mg/L | Yes | 16 | B | |
| 14 | Lower Twp.-0505 | 2.450 mg/L | Yes | 1 | C+ | |
| 15 | Sussex Boro-1921 | 2.450 mg/L | Yes | 34 | D+ | |
| 16 | Washington Twp.-1438 | 2.435 mg/L | Yes | 22 | F | |
| 17 | Lawrence Twp.-1107 | 2.400 mg/L | Yes | 39 | F | |
| 18 | East Greenwich Twp.-0803 | 2.400 mg/L | Yes | 1 | B+ | |
| 19 | Lebanon Twp.-1019 | 2.400 mg/L | Yes | 20 | D | |
| 20 | Mount Arlington Boro-1426 | 2.280 mg/L | Yes | 6 | C+ | |
| 21 | Barnegat Twp.-1533 | 2.260 mg/L | Yes | 5 | C+ | |
| 22 | Hamilton Twp-0112 | 2.200 mg/L | Yes | 4 | C | |
| 23 | Oldmans Twp.-1706 | 2.200 mg/L | Yes | 3 | B- | |
| 24 | Oldmans Twp.-1706 | 2.200 mg/L | Yes | 1 | B+ | |
| 25 | Summit City-2018 | 2.180 mg/L | Yes | 12 | F | |
| 26 | Freehold Twp.-1316 | 2.140 mg/L | Yes | 22 | F | |
| 27 | Bridgeton City-0601 | 2.100 mg/L | Yes | 55 | D | |
| 28 | Holland Twp.-1015 | 2.100 mg/L | Yes | 1 | B- | |
| 29 | Millville City-0610 | 2.080 mg/L | Yes | 3 | F | |
| 30 | Vineland City-0614 | 2.071 mg/L | Yes | 70 | F | |
| 31 | Franklin Twp.-0805 | 2.071 mg/L | Yes | 19 | F | |
| 32 | Franklin Twp.-0805 | 2.071 mg/L | Yes | 5 | B+ | |
| 33 | Boonton Town-1401 | 1.930 mg/L | Yes | 9 | F | |
| 34 | Edison Twp.-1205 | 1.900 mg/L | Yes | 4 | B- | |
| 35 | Mahwah Twp-0233 | 1.900 mg/L | Yes | 2 | C- | |
| 36 | Woodbine Boro-0516 | 1.860 mg/L | Yes | 5 | C | |
| 37 | South River Boro-1223 | 1.830 mg/L | Yes | 7 | F | |
| 38 | Winslow Twp.-0436 | 1.820 mg/L | Yes | 37 | F | |
| 39 | Shamong Twp.-0332 | 1.734 mg/L | Yes | 1 | B- | |
| 40 | Westville Boro-0821 | 1.666 mg/L | Yes | 4 | B- | |
| 41 | Collingswood Boro-0412 | 1.648 mg/L | Yes | 4 | B+ | |
| 42 | Stafford Twp.-1530 | 1.600 mg/L | Yes | 3 | B | |
| 43 | Newton Town-1915 | 1.600 mg/L | Yes | 51 | B- | |
| 44 | Glen Gardner Boro-1012 | 1.600 mg/L | Yes | 4 | D+ | |
| 45 | Green Twp.-1908 | 1.600 mg/L | Yes | 5 | D | |
| 46 | Burlington Twp.-0306 | 1.580 mg/L | Yes | 1 | B- | |
| 47 | Branchville Boro-1903 | 1.580 mg/L | Yes | 3 | C+ | |
| 48 | Summit City-2018 | 1.550 mg/L | Yes | 42 | F | |
| 49 | Oldmans Twp.-1706 | 1.550 mg/L | Yes | 3 | B- | |
| 50 | Orange City-0717 | 1.540 mg/L | Yes | 5 | C+ | |
| 51 | Roxbury Twp.-1436 | 1.500 mg/L | Yes | 8 | D+ | |
| 52 | Stockton Boro-1023 | 1.500 mg/L | Yes | 3 | D+ | |
| 53 | Highland Park Boro-1207 | 1.480 mg/L | Yes | 4 | B+ | |
| 54 | Jefferson Twp.-1414 | 1.430 mg/L | Yes | 36 | F | |
| 55 | Rahway City-2013 | 1.410 mg/L | Yes | 12 | B | |
| 56 | Lawrence Twp.-1107 | 1.400 mg/L | Yes | 40 | F | |
| 57 | Jackson Twp.-1511 | 1.400 mg/L | Yes | 18 | F | |
| 58 | Byram Twp.-1904 | 1.400 mg/L | Yes | 29 | D | |
| 59 | Kinnelon Boro-1415 | 1.390 mg/L | Yes | 41 | F | |
| 60 | Vernon Twp.-1922 | 1.390 mg/L | Yes | 16 | F | |
| 61 | Lambertville City-1017 | 1.390 mg/L | Yes | 3 | A- | |
| 62 | Roosevelt Boro-1341 | 1.370 mg/L | Yes | 0 | A- | |
| 63 | Sparta Twp.-1918 | 1.360 mg/L | Yes | 11 | F | |
| 64 | Hardyston Twp.-1911 | 1.360 mg/L | Yes | 10 | F | |
| 65 | Woodland Twp.-0339 | 1.360 mg/L | Yes | 3 | C | |
| 66 | Long Beach Twp.-1517 | 1.350 mg/L | Yes | 0 | F |
Frequently asked questions about copper in New Jersey
Is copper in New Jersey drinking water safe?
66 cities in New Jersey exceed the EPA action level of 1.3 mg/L for copper. The state average is 4.460 mg/L. Copper levels are highest in homes with copper plumbing, particularly when water sits in pipes overnight. Flushing the tap before use significantly reduces copper in drinking water.
What causes high copper levels in New Jersey tap water?
Copper typically leaches from copper pipes and brass fittings within homes, not from the water source itself. Corrosive (low pH or soft) water accelerates this leaching. Water utilities with high copper readings are required to adjust water chemistry to reduce corrosivity. You can reduce exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds before use.