Molybdenum in New Jersey Drinking Water
Ranked by max molybdenum detected (µg/L) · UCMR 3 data (2013–2015) · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR
Molybdenum in New Jersey: what the data shows
New Jersey has 100 cities with molybdenum data from the EPA's UCMR 3 program (2013–2015). Molybdenum exceeded the 40 µg/L EPA lifetime health advisory in 0 of those cities. The state average max detected level is 2.29 µg/L. Molybdenum is a naturally occurring trace element found in groundwater across the western United States, particularly in areas with shale or copper-mining geology. Industrial sources include mining, steel alloy production, and coal-fired power plants. There is no federal MCL — the EPA lifetime health advisory is 40 µg/L. Molybdenum is an essential nutrient at low doses, but chronic excess intake from drinking water has been linked to elevated uric acid, gout-like symptoms, and possible reproductive effects. Reverse osmosis is the most effective household treatment.
Cities exceeding 40 µg/L EPA lifetime HA (no MCL)
Molybdenum data across New Jersey
Each dot is a city with UCMR 3 molybdenum testing data. Cities where molybdenum exceeds the 40 µg/L EPA lifetime health advisory are highlighted. Size reflects population served.
Top 10 cities by molybdenum level in New Jersey
All New Jersey cities ranked by molybdenum level
| # | City | Level | Level | Over HA? | Violations | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Woodbridge Twp.-1225 | 20.08 µg/L | No | 1 | B | |
| 2 | Elizabeth City- 2004 | 18.20 µg/L | No | 8 | C- | |
| 3 | Monroe Twp.-1213 | 18.20 µg/L | No | 6 | F | |
| 4 | Toms River-1507 | 5.20 µg/L | No | 13 | B | |
| 5 | Pompton Lakes Boro-1609 | 3.87 µg/L | No | 0 | C | |
| 6 | Sparta Twp.-1918 | 3.70 µg/L | No | 11 | F | |
| 7 | Phillipsburg Town-2119 | 2.60 µg/L | No | 0 | B+ | |
| 8 | Deptford Twp.-0802 | 2.20 µg/L | No | 3 | B- | |
| 9 | Moorestown Twp.-0322 | 2.13 µg/L | No | 5 | F | |
| 10 | Atlantic City-0102 | 2.10 µg/L | No | 4 | B | |
| 11 | Mount Holly Twp.-0323 | 2.10 µg/L | No | 0 | B+ | |
| 12 | Mantua Twp.-0810 | 2.00 µg/L | No | 28 | F | |
| 13 | Glassboro Boro-0806 | 1.90 µg/L | No | 16 | C | |
| 14 | Little Falls Twp.-1605 | 1.80 µg/L | No | 12 | B | |
| 15 | Hillside Twp.-2007 | 1.80 µg/L | No | 32 | C | |
| 16 | Irvington Town-0709 | 1.80 µg/L | No | 32 | C | |
| 17 | Bedminster Twp.-1801 | 1.80 µg/L | No | 0 | B+ | |
| 18 | Belvidere Town-2103 | 1.80 µg/L | No | 0 | B+ | |
| 19 | Berkeley Heights Twp.-2001 | 1.80 µg/L | No | 0 | B+ | |
| 20 | Bernards Twp.-1802 | 1.80 µg/L | No | 0 | B+ | |
| 21 | Bernardsville Boro-1803 | 1.80 µg/L | No | 0 | B+ | |
| 22 | Chatham Boro-1404 | 1.80 µg/L | No | 5 | D+ | |
| 23 | Chester Twp.-1407 | 1.80 µg/L | No | 0 | B+ | |
| 24 | Far Hills Boro-1807 | 1.80 µg/L | No | 0 | B+ | |
| 25 | Franklin Twp.-2105 | 1.80 µg/L | No | 0 | B+ | |
| 26 | Frenchtown Boro-1011 | 1.80 µg/L | No | 0 | B+ | |
| 27 | Harding Twp.-1413 | 1.80 µg/L | No | 2 | F | |
| 28 | Maplewood Twp.-0711 | 1.80 µg/L | No | 0 | B+ | |
| 29 | Mendham Boro-1418 | 1.80 µg/L | No | 0 | B+ | |
| 30 | Mendham Twp.-1419 | 1.80 µg/L | No | 2 | D+ | |
| 31 | Millburn Twp.-0712 | 1.80 µg/L | No | 0 | B+ | |
| 32 | Mount Olive Twp.-1427 | 1.80 µg/L | No | 42 | F | |
| 33 | New Providence Boro-2011 | 1.80 µg/L | No | 0 | B+ | |
| 34 | Oxford Twp.-2117 | 1.80 µg/L | No | 12 | F | |
| 35 | Springfield Twp.-2017 | 1.80 µg/L | No | 0 | B+ | |
| 36 | Summit City-2018 | 1.80 µg/L | No | 0 | B+ | |
| 37 | Union Twp-.2019 | 1.80 µg/L | No | 0 | B+ | |
| 38 | Warren Twp.-1820 | 1.80 µg/L | No | 0 | B+ | |
| 39 | Livingston Twp.-0710 | 1.80 µg/L | No | 10 | C | |
| 40 | West Deptford Twp.-0820 | 1.80 µg/L | No | 2 | B | |
| 41 | South Orange Village-0719 | 1.80 µg/L | No | 1 | B | |
| 42 | Florham Park Boro-1411 | 1.80 µg/L | No | 0 | C- | |
| 43 | North Caldwell Boro-0715 | 1.80 µg/L | No | 3 | B- | |
| 44 | Roxbury Twp.-1436 | 1.76 µg/L | No | 8 | D+ | |
| 45 | Woodbury City-0822 | 1.75 µg/L | No | 0 | B | |
| 46 | Audubon Boro-0401 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 0 | B | |
| 47 | Audubon Park Boro-0402 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 0 | B | |
| 48 | Barrington Boro-0403 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 0 | B | |
| 49 | Beverly City-0302 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 0 | B | |
| 50 | Cherry Hill Twp.-0409 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 8 | C- | |
| 51 | Cinnaminson Twp.-0308 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 0 | B | |
| 52 | Clementon Boro-0411 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 0 | C+ | |
| 53 | Delanco Twp.-0309 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 0 | B | |
| 54 | Delran Twp.-0310 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 0 | B | |
| 55 | Edgewater Park Twp.-0312 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 0 | B | |
| 56 | Gibbsboro Boro-0413 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 0 | B | |
| 57 | Gloucester Twp.-0415 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 1 | B- | |
| 58 | Haddon Heights Boro-0418 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 0 | B | |
| 59 | Haddon Twp.-0416 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 0 | C+ | |
| 60 | Haddonfield Boro-0417 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 0 | B | |
| 61 | Hi-Nella Boro-0419 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 0 | B | |
| 62 | Laurel Springs Boro-0420 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 0 | B | |
| 63 | Lawnside Boro-0421 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 0 | B | |
| 64 | Lindenwold Boro-0422 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 0 | B | |
| 65 | Magnolia Boro-0423 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 0 | B | |
| 66 | Mount Ephraim Boro-0425 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 0 | B | |
| 67 | Mount Laurel Twp.-0324 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 1 | B- | |
| 68 | Oaklyn Boro-0426 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 0 | B | |
| 69 | Palmyra Boro-0327 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 0 | B | |
| 70 | Riverside Twp.-0330 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 0 | B | |
| 71 | Riverton Boro-0331 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 0 | B | |
| 72 | Runnemede Boro-0430 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 0 | B | |
| 73 | Somerdale Boro-0431 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 0 | B | |
| 74 | Stratford Boro-0432 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 0 | B | |
| 75 | Voorhees Twp.-0434 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 0 | B | |
| 76 | Hanover Twp.-1412 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 2 | C- | |
| 77 | Morris Plains Boro-1423 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 2 | C- | |
| 78 | Morris Twp.-1422 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 2 | D+ | |
| 79 | Morristown Town-1424 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 2 | C- | |
| 80 | Pennsauken Twp.-0427 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 8 | C- | |
| 81 | Camden City-0408 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 25 | F | |
| 82 | Burlington Twp.-0306 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 0 | B- | |
| 83 | Maple Shade Twp.-0319 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 2 | C+ | |
| 84 | Bellmawr Boro-0404 | 1.70 µg/L | No | 1 | B- | |
| 85 | Montville Twp.-1421 | 1.64 µg/L | No | 7 | C | |
| 86 | Rockaway Twp.-1435 | 1.60 µg/L | No | 8 | F | |
| 87 | Winslow Twp.-0436 | 1.54 µg/L | No | 37 | F | |
| 88 | Vineland City-0614 | 1.50 µg/L | No | 70 | F | |
| 89 | East Hanover Twp.-1410 | 1.50 µg/L | No | 8 | C+ | |
| 90 | Clinton Town -1005 | 1.43 µg/L | No | 2 | D | |
| 91 | Washington Twp.-0818 | 1.40 µg/L | No | 0 | F | |
| 92 | Ramsey Boro-0248 | 1.40 µg/L | No | 56 | F | |
| 93 | Merchantville Boro-0424 | 1.30 µg/L | No | 8 | C+ | |
| 94 | Rahway City-2013 | 1.30 µg/L | No | 12 | B | |
| 95 | Fair Lawn Boro-0217 | 1.18 µg/L | No | 8 | F | |
| 96 | Highland Park Boro-1207 | 1.11 µg/L | No | 4 | B+ | |
| 97 | Edison Twp.-1205 | 1.10 µg/L | No | 4 | B- | |
| 98 | Garfield City-0221 | 1.10 µg/L | No | 13 | B | |
| 99 | Verona Boro-0720 | 1.10 µg/L | No | 5 | F | |
| 100 | North Arlington Boro-0239 | 1.00 µg/L | No | 7 | B+ |
Frequently asked questions about molybdenum in New Jersey
Is molybdenum in New Jersey tap water harmful?
Molybdenum is an essential trace nutrient at low levels, but chronic exposure above the EPA's 40 µg/L lifetime health advisory has been associated with elevated uric acid, gout-like joint pain, and possible reproductive effects. No cities in New Jersey exceed the 40 µg/L health advisory.
Where does molybdenum come from?
Molybdenum occurs naturally in groundwater, especially in the western US in regions with shale, copper mining, or molybdenum mining geology. Industrial sources include mining tailings, steel alloy production, and coal ash. Surface-water systems generally have lower molybdenum than groundwater.
How can I remove molybdenum from drinking water?
Reverse osmosis is the most effective household treatment for molybdenum, typically removing 90%+. Anion exchange and some specialty media (like activated alumina) also work. Standard activated carbon filters are NOT effective against molybdenum.