Lithium Contamination

Lithium in New Jersey Drinking Water

Ranked by max lithium detected (µg/L) · UCMR 5 data (2023–2025) · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

149

Cities Tested

149

Detected

100%

% Detected

18.4 µg/L

State Avg

▼ 0% vs national

vs National

331

Health Violations

Analysis

Lithium in New Jersey: what the data shows

New Jersey has 149 cities with lithium data from the EPA's UCMR 5 program (2023–2025). Lithium was detected in 149 of those cities. There is currently no federal MCL or health advisory for lithium — the state average max detected level is 18.4 µg/L. Nationally, lithium is detected in roughly 28% of sampled water systems. Lithium occurs naturally in groundwater, particularly in arid western states, and is concentrated in some surface waters near industrial discharge or geothermal sources. UCMR 5 added lithium monitoring in 2023, providing the first systematic national snapshot of public-water lithium levels. At therapeutic doses (administered as a medication), lithium is used to treat bipolar disorder. Chronic low-dose exposure from drinking water has been associated in some studies with effects on thyroid function and possibly mood. The most protective state guidance value is around 60 µg/L. Reverse osmosis and ion exchange are effective removal methods.

Comparison

Cities exceeding No federal MCL or HA

New Jersey

100%

149 of 149 cities

← = Exactly at national rate

National avg

100%

2808 of 2808 cities

City Map

Lithium data across New Jersey

Each dot is a city with UCMR 5 lithium testing data. Detected cities are shown — there is no federal limit, though some states use 60 µg/L as a screening level. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by lithium level in New Jersey

Highest Lithium levels (µg/L)

All Cities

All New Jersey cities ranked by lithium level

#	City	Level	Detected?	Violations	Grade
1	Flemington Boro-1009	60.1 µg/L	Detected	66	F
2	Elizabeth City- 2004	36.1 µg/L	Detected	8	C-
3	Elizabeth City- 2004	36.1 µg/L	Detected	6	F
4	Mahwah Twp-0233	33.1 µg/L	Detected	2	C-
5	Mannington Twp.-1705	33.1 µg/L	Detected	8	C-
6	Woodstown Boro-1715	33.1 µg/L	Detected	1	B+
7	Woodstown Boro-1715	33.1 µg/L	Detected	1	B+
8	Oldmans Twp.-1706	33.0 µg/L	Detected	3	B-
9	Oldmans Twp.-1706	33.0 µg/L	Detected	3	B-
10	Oldmans Twp.-1706	33.0 µg/L	Detected	1	B+
11	Burlington Twp.-0306	30.1 µg/L	Detected	25	F
12	Willingboro Twp.-0338	29.9 µg/L	Detected	1	B
13	Burlington Twp.-0306	29.2 µg/L	Detected	5	F
14	Little Falls Twp.-1605	28.2 µg/L	Detected	12	B
15	Hillside Twp.-2007	28.2 µg/L	Detected	32	C
16	Hillside Twp.-2007	28.2 µg/L	Detected	32	C
17	Summit City-2018	28.2 µg/L	Detected	5	D+
18	Summit City-2018	28.2 µg/L	Detected	2	F
19	Summit City-2018	28.2 µg/L	Detected	2	D+
20	Summit City-2018	28.2 µg/L	Detected	42	F
21	Summit City-2018	28.2 µg/L	Detected	10	C
22	Summit City-2018	28.2 µg/L	Detected	1	B
23	Summit City-2018	28.2 µg/L	Detected	0	C-
24	Summit City-2018	28.2 µg/L	Detected	3	B-
25	Summit City-2018	28.2 µg/L	Detected	0	B+
26	Summit City-2018	28.2 µg/L	Detected	0	B+
27	Summit City-2018	28.2 µg/L	Detected	0	B+
28	Summit City-2018	28.2 µg/L	Detected	0	B+
29	Summit City-2018	28.2 µg/L	Detected	12	F
30	Summit City-2018	28.2 µg/L	Detected	0	B+
31	Summit City-2018	28.2 µg/L	Detected	0	B+
32	Summit City-2018	28.2 µg/L	Detected	0	B+
33	Summit City-2018	28.2 µg/L	Detected	0	B+
34	Summit City-2018	28.2 µg/L	Detected	0	B+
35	Summit City-2018	28.2 µg/L	Detected	0	B+
36	Summit City-2018	28.2 µg/L	Detected	0	B+
37	Summit City-2018	28.2 µg/L	Detected	0	B+
38	Summit City-2018	28.2 µg/L	Detected	0	B+
39	Summit City-2018	28.2 µg/L	Detected	0	B+
40	Summit City-2018	28.2 µg/L	Detected	0	B+
41	Summit City-2018	28.2 µg/L	Detected	0	B+
42	Summit City-2018	28.2 µg/L	Detected	0	B+
43	Lawrence Twp.-1107	27.5 µg/L	Detected	37	F
44	Burlington Twp.-0306	25.6 µg/L	Detected	8	C-
45	Burlington Twp.-0306	25.6 µg/L	Detected	8	C-
46	Camden City-0408	25.6 µg/L	Detected	8	C+
47	East Windsor Twp.-1101	25.1 µg/L	Detected	1	A-
48	Hightstown Boro-1104	24.0 µg/L	Detected	1	A
49	Burlington Twp.-0306	22.9 µg/L	Detected	1	B-
50	Greenwich Twp.-0807	22.9 µg/L	Detected	1	B-
51	Collingswood Boro-0412	22.1 µg/L	Detected	4	B+
52	Old Bridge Twp.-1209	21.2 µg/L	Detected	14	C+
53	Guttenberg Town-0903	21.1 µg/L	Detected	4	D
54	Guttenberg Town-0903	21.1 µg/L	Detected	4	D
55	Guttenberg Town-0903	21.1 µg/L	Detected	4	D
56	Hillsdale Boro-0227	21.1 µg/L	Detected	2	C+
57	Hillsdale Boro-0227	21.1 µg/L	Detected	2	C+
58	Burlington Twp.-0306	20.0 µg/L	Detected	2	C+
59	Paulsboro Boro-0814	19.7 µg/L	Detected	6	B+
60	Clinton Town -1005	19.3 µg/L	Detected	2	D
61	Washington Boro-2121	18.7 µg/L	Detected	0	B+
62	Maurice River Twp.-0609	18.2 µg/L	Detected	3	B+
63	Lower Twp.-0505	17.7 µg/L	Detected	1	C+
64	Woolwich Twp.-0824	17.2 µg/L	Detected	1	B+
65	Woolwich Twp.-0824	17.2 µg/L	Detected	1	B+
66	Jefferson Twp.-1414	17.1 µg/L	Detected	36	F
67	Freehold Twp.-1316	17.0 µg/L	Detected	8	D+
68	Freehold Twp.-1316	17.0 µg/L	Detected	17	D+
69	Freehold Boro-1315	15.3 µg/L	Detected	3	B-
70	Florence Twp.-0315	15.1 µg/L	Detected	1	B
71	South River Boro-1223	15.1 µg/L	Detected	7	F
72	Long Beach Twp.-1517	14.7 µg/L	Detected	0	F
73	Hohokus Boro-0228	14.7 µg/L	Detected	1	B+
74	Marlboro Twp.-1328	14.3 µg/L	Detected	13	C+
75	Barnegat Light Boro-1501	14.1 µg/L	Detected	0	A-
76	Woodbridge Twp.-1225	14.0 µg/L	Detected	1	B
77	Cape May City-0502	13.9 µg/L	Detected	9	B
78	Englishtown Boro-1312	13.8 µg/L	Detected	1	B+
79	Stafford Twp.-1530	13.6 µg/L	Detected	3	B
80	Freehold Twp.-1316	13.5 µg/L	Detected	22	F
81	Freehold Twp.-1316	13.2 µg/L	Detected	13	B-
82	Ship Bottom Boro-1528	13.2 µg/L	Detected	2	A-
83	Waldwick Boro-0264	13.1 µg/L	Detected	2	F
84	Surf City Boro-1531	13.0 µg/L	Detected	0	D
85	Wildwood City-0514	12.9 µg/L	Detected	6	B-
86	Garfield City-0221	12.9 µg/L	Detected	13	B
87	Little Egg Harbor-1516	12.8 µg/L	Detected	1	A
88	Ramsey Boro-0248	12.7 µg/L	Detected	56	F
89	Buena Boro-0104	12.7 µg/L	Detected	1	A
90	West Cape May Boro-0512	12.7 µg/L	Detected	0	A-
91	Ocean City-0508	12.2 µg/L	Detected	0	A+
92	Old Bridge Twp.-1209	12.2 µg/L	Detected	8	B
93	Allentown Boro-1302	12.2 µg/L	Detected	0	A-
94	Monroe Twp.-0811	12.1 µg/L	Detected	9	C
95	Beach Haven Boro-1503	12.0 µg/L	Detected	1	A-
96	East Greenwich Twp.-0803	12.0 µg/L	Detected	1	B+
97	Ridgewood Twp-0251	11.9 µg/L	Detected	12	D+
98	Sayreville Boro-1219	11.7 µg/L	Detected	2	B
99	Avalon Boro-0501	11.6 µg/L	Detected	2	B
100	Stone Harbor Boro-0510	11.6 µg/L	Detected	2	B+
101	Seaside Park Boro-1527	11.5 µg/L	Detected	1	A-
102	Westville Boro-0821	11.4 µg/L	Detected	4	B-
103	Berkeley Twp.-1505	10.9 µg/L	Detected	2	C+
104	Bordentown Twp.-0304	10.9 µg/L	Detected	17	C
105	Bordentown Twp.-0304	10.9 µg/L	Detected	14	B-
106	Bordentown Twp.-0304	10.9 µg/L	Detected	14	B-
107	Harvey Cedars Boro-1509	10.8 µg/L	Detected	0	B+
108	Tuckerton Boro-1532	10.8 µg/L	Detected	2	B-
109	Burlington Twp.-0306	10.7 µg/L	Detected	0	B-
110	Absecon City-0101	10.7 µg/L	Detected	9	C-
111	Galloway Twp-0111	10.7 µg/L	Detected	1	A-
112	Brooklawn Boro-0407	10.7 µg/L	Detected	0	B
113	Fair Lawn Boro-0217	10.6 µg/L	Detected	8	F
114	Freehold Twp.-1316	10.2 µg/L	Detected	2	B
115	Freehold Twp.-1316	10.2 µg/L	Detected	3	B-
116	Freehold Twp.-1316	10.2 µg/L	Detected	1	B
117	Freehold Twp.-1316	10.2 µg/L	Detected	4	C
118	Freehold Twp.-1316	10.2 µg/L	Detected	4	C
119	Freehold Twp.-1316	10.2 µg/L	Detected	4	C
120	Freehold Twp.-1316	10.2 µg/L	Detected	6	F
121	Freehold Twp.-1316	10.2 µg/L	Detected	3	C-
122	Freehold Twp.-1316	10.2 µg/L	Detected	9	C+
123	Freehold Twp.-1316	10.2 µg/L	Detected	1	B+
124	Freehold Twp.-1316	10.2 µg/L	Detected	1	B+
125	Freehold Twp.-1316	10.2 µg/L	Detected	1	B+
126	Freehold Twp.-1316	10.2 µg/L	Detected	1	B+
127	Freehold Twp.-1316	10.2 µg/L	Detected	1	B+
128	Freehold Twp.-1316	10.2 µg/L	Detected	1	B+
129	Freehold Twp.-1316	10.2 µg/L	Detected	1	B+
130	Freehold Twp.-1316	10.2 µg/L	Detected	1	B+
131	Freehold Twp.-1316	10.2 µg/L	Detected	1	B+
132	Freehold Twp.-1316	10.2 µg/L	Detected	1	B+
133	Freehold Twp.-1316	10.2 µg/L	Detected	1	B+
134	Freehold Twp.-1316	10.2 µg/L	Detected	1	B+
135	Freehold Twp.-1316	10.2 µg/L	Detected	1	B+
136	Freehold Twp.-1316	10.2 µg/L	Detected	1	B+
137	Freehold Twp.-1316	10.2 µg/L	Detected	1	B+
138	Burlington Twp.-0306	9.9 µg/L	Detected	0	C+
139	Hopatcong Boro-1912	9.8 µg/L	Detected	3	D+
140	Gloucester City-0414	9.5 µg/L	Detected	2	A-
141	Southampton Twp.-0333	9.5 µg/L	Detected	9	D
142	Allendale Boro-0201	9.3 µg/L	Detected	3	B-
143	Absecon City-0101	9.3 µg/L	Detected	22	F
144	Absecon City-0101	9.3 µg/L	Detected	4	B-
145	Absecon City-0101	9.3 µg/L	Detected	0	A-
146	Absecon City-0101	9.3 µg/L	Detected	0	A-
147	Absecon City-0101	9.3 µg/L	Detected	0	A-
148	Absecon City-0101	9.3 µg/L	Detected	0	A-
149	Caldwell Boro-0703	9.1 µg/L	Detected	3	B-

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about lithium in New Jersey

Is lithium in New Jersey tap water harmful?

Lithium has no federal MCL or health advisory. Some state agencies use 60 µg/L as a screening level. 149 cities in New Jersey had detectable lithium in UCMR 5 testing. Therapeutic lithium doses (used to treat bipolar disorder) are far higher than typical drinking-water levels, but chronic low-level exposure has been studied for potential thyroid and mood effects.

Where does lithium in tap water come from?

Lithium occurs naturally in groundwater, especially in arid western states with lithium-bearing geology (parts of Nevada, California, North Carolina, Texas). It can also enter water from industrial sources such as battery manufacturing, ceramics, and lithium-mining wastewater. Geothermal hot springs are another natural source.

How can I remove lithium from my drinking water?

Reverse osmosis is highly effective at removing lithium, typically reducing it by 90% or more. Ion exchange systems and distillation also work well. Standard activated carbon filters are NOT effective against lithium. If you rely on a private well in a lithium-rich geological area, consider testing.

More contaminants