43 NJ Sites Have Toxic Contamination: See Report's Full List

A new report shows that hundreds of sites nationwide — including 43 in New Jersey alone — have been contaminated with the toxic chemicals so familiar to many area residents, many of whom have had their drinking water systems impacted by the substances (see list below).

Researchers at the Environmental Working Group, an activist nonprofit group, said this week that at least 610 places in 43 states are now known to be contaminated with perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known collectively as PFAS. That’s up from the 172 the organization had identified in July 2018. A total of 19 million people have had their water source affected.

The new study gives New Jerseyans a comprehensive look at just how widespread the problem is, and offers a comparative glance at how severely area military bases, drinking water wells, and other sites have been compromised.

PFAS has long been a concern in New Jersey, and it's a concern that's brought state and federal attention to a number of counties.

The state Department of Environmental Protection has identified five companies it says are responsible for the "extensive contamination" and directing them to fund millions of dollars in assessment and cleanup efforts, Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe recently announced.

Read more: 5 Companies Did 'Extensive Contamination' Of Your NJ Water: DEP

There are no legally enforceable limits for PFAS under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. 70 parts per trillion is just the EPA's non-binding health advisory level for drinking water. EWG is calling on the EPA to establish what it calls a “truly health-protective legal limit” for all PFAS chemicals, but the possibility of that happening anytime soon remains murky.

The results from EWG show that many New Jersey sources may have skirted this line, while others have shown far greater levels of contamination. The 43 sites are served by:

Mahwah Water Department

• Population served: 25,001
• Testing dates: 12/09/15 - 12/09/15
• PFAS detected: PFOS
• PFAS min - max: 0 - 98 ppt
• Source: EWG from drinking water test data

Allendale Water Department

• Population served: 6,702
• Testing dates: 10/15/18 - 11/09/18
• PFAS detected: PFBS, PFHpA, PFHxA, PFHxS, PFNA, PFOA, PFOS
• PFAS min - max: 5.7 - 72.1 ppt
• Source: EWG from drinking water test data

United Water NJ

• Population served: 792,713
• Testing dates: 01/24/18 - 11/07/18
• PFAS detected: PFBS, PFHpA, PFHxA, PFHxS, PFNA, PFOA, PFOS
• PFAS min - max: 0 - 3.126 ppt
• Source: EWG from drinking water test data

Suez Water New Jersey Franklin Lakes

• Population served: 5,038
• Testing dates: 05/08/18 - 11/07/18
• PFAS detected: PFBS, PFHpA, PFHxA, PFHxS, PFOA, PFOS
• PFAS min - max: 22.7 - 37.3 ppt
• Source: EWG from drinking water test data

Fair Lawn Water Department

• Population served: 31,000
• Testing dates: 01/29/13 - 11/26/13
• PFAS detected: PFOA, PFOS
• PFAS min - max: 0 - 130.75 ppt
• Source: EWG from drinking water test data

Garfield Water Department

• Population served: 30,487
• Testing dates: 10/21/13 - 04/28/14
• PFAS detected: PFOA
• PFAS min - max: 0 - 61 ppt
• Source: EWG from drinking water test data

Passaic Valley Water Commission-postbrook

• Population served: 358
• Testing dates: 11/14/18 - 11/14/18
• PFAS detected: PFBS, PFHxA, PFHxS, PFOA, PFOS
• PFAS min - max: 111.2 - 111.2 ppt
• Source: EWG from drinking water test data

Passaic Valley Water Commission

• Population served: 310,121
• Testing dates: 01/29/18 - 10/10/18
• PFAS detected: PFBS, PFHpA, PFHxA, PFHxS, PFNA, PFOA, PFOS
• PFAS min - max: 0 - 57.4 ppt
• Source: EWG from drinking water test data

Wallington Water Department

• Population served: 12,000
• Testing dates: 11/13/13 - 11/13/13
• PFAS detected: PFOA
• PFAS min - max: 0 - 22 ppt
• Source: EWG from drinking water test data

Montclair Water Bureau

• Population served: 37,669
• Testing dates: 11/21/14 - 05/21/15
• PFAS detected: PFHpA, PFOA
• PFAS min - max: 0 - 150.03 ppt
• Source: EWG from drinking water test data

Orange Water Department

• Population served: 33,000
• Testing dates: 02/03/15 - 02/03/15
• PFAS detected: PFOA
• PFAS min - max: 0 - 44 ppt
• Source: EWG from drinking water test data

South Orange Water Department

• Population served: 16,964
• Testing dates: 03/25/15 - 11/15/18
• PFAS detected: PFBS, PFHpA, PFHxS, PFOA, PFOS
• PFAS min - max: 0 - 199.6 ppt
• Source: EWG from drinking water test data

NJ American Water-twin Lakes

• Population served: 250
• Testing dates: 02/26/18 - 11/13/18
• PFAS detected: PFOA, PFOS
• PFAS min - max: 0 - 17.2 ppt
• Source: EWG from drinking water test data

NJ American Water - Short Hills

• Population served: 217,230
• Testing dates: 07/28/15 - 11/08/18
• PFAS detected: PFBS, PFHpA, PFOA, PFOS
• PFAS min - max: 0 - 51 ppt
• Source: EWG from drinking water test data

Awm Four Seasons At Chester

• Population served: 280
• Testing dates: 02/06/18 - 11/07/18
• PFAS detected: PFOA, PFOS
• PFAS min - max: 16.3 - 19.3 ppt
• Source: EWG from drinking water test data

Awo&m - Picatinny Arsenal

• Population served: 6,011
• Testing dates: 10/12/18 - 10/15/18
• PFAS detected: PFBS, PFHxS, PFOA, PFOS
• PFAS min - max: 0 - 149 ppt
• Source: EWG from drinking water test data

United Water Rahway

• Population served: 27,300
• Testing dates: 01/15/14 - 07/23/18
• PFAS detected: PFBS, PFHpA, PFHxA, PFHxS, PFNA, PFOA, PFOS
• PFAS min - max: 0 - 99 ppt
• Source: EWG from drinking water test data

Middlesex Water Company

• Population served: 233,376
• Testing dates: 10/15/13 - 08/13/18
• PFAS detected: PFBS, PFHpA, PFHxA, PFHxS, PFOA, PFOS
• PFAS min - max: 0 - 88 ppt
• Source: EWG from drinking water test data

Perth Amboy Water Department

• Population served: 52,328
• Testing dates: 04/04/18 - 04/04/18
• PFAS detected: PFHpA, PFHxA, PFHxS, PFOA, PFOS
• PFAS min - max: 0 - 85.1 ppt
• Source: EWG from drinking water test data

Edison Water Company c/o NJ American Water

• Population served: 35,000
• Testing dates: 01/09/13 - 01/09/13
• PFAS detected: PFHpA
• PFAS min - max: 0 - 11 ppt
• Source: EWG from drinking water test data

NJ American Water - Raritan

• Population served: 615,430
• Testing dates: 03/03/15 - 09/18/15
• PFAS detected: PFHpA, PFHxS, PFOA, PFOS
• PFAS min - max: 0 - 170 ppt
• Source: EWG from drinking water test data

Ridgewood Water

• Population served: 61,700
• Testing dates: 06/25/14 - 09/23/15
• PFAS detected: PFHpA, PFOA, PFOS
• PFAS min - max: 0 - 158 ppt
• Source: EWG from drinking water test data

Monroe Twp MUA

• Population served: 36,100
• Testing dates: 06/26/13 - 01/29/14
• PFAS detected: PFNA
• PFAS min - max: 0 - 28.1 ppt
• Source: EWG from drinking water test data

Naval Weapons Station Earle

• Location: Colts Neck Township, New Jersey
• Date of discovery: 2016
• Results (PFOS/ PFOA) or Range above EPA LHAs:(off-base drinking water) PFOA= 2.3 ppt; PFOS= 1.7 ppt (on-base groundwater) Combined PFOS/PFOA = 70-228 ppt
• Other Results PFAS or Range above EPA LHAs:(off-base drinking water) PFNA= 2.4 ppt
• Suspected source: Firefighting foam used at Naval Weapons Station Earle
• Source: EWG from Department of Defense

Hawthorne Water Department

• Population served: 21,006
• Testing dates: 05/22/13 - 05/22/13
• PFAS detected: PFOA
• PFAS min - max: 0 - 68 ppt
• Source: EWG from drinking water test data

Aqua NJ - Lawrence

• Population served: 8,655
• Testing dates: 12/14/17 - 11/05/18
• PFAS detected: PFBS, PFHpA, PFHxA, PFOA, PFOS
• PFAS min - max: 11.9 - 27.9 ppt
• Source: EWG from drinking water test data

Trenton

• Location: Ewing Township, New Jersey
• Date of discovery: 2018
• Results (PFOS/ PFOA) or Range above EPA LHAs:(on-base) Combined PFOS/PFOA = 178-27,800 ppt
• Other Results PFAS or Range above EPA LHAs:N/A
• Suspected source: Firefighting foam used at former Naval Air Warfare Center Trenton, now Trenton-Mercer Airport
• Source: EWG from Department of Defense

Lakewood Twp MUA

• Population served: 21,000
• Testing dates: 08/27/14 - 08/09/18
• PFAS detected: PFOA, PFOS
• PFAS min - max: 0 - 22.5 ppt
• Source: EWG from drinking water test data

Point Pleasant Water Department

• Population served: 19,600
• Testing dates: 09/16/13 - 11/13/13
• PFAS detected: PFOA
• PFAS min - max: 0 - 24.55 ppt
• Source: EWG from drinking water test data

Point Pleasant Beach Water Department

• Population served: 12,000
• Testing dates: 06/10/15 - 06/10/15
• PFAS detected: PFOA
• PFAS min - max: 0 - 20 ppt
• Source: EWG from drinking water test data

Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst

• Location: Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey
• Date of discovery: 2015
• Results (PFOS/ PFOA) or Range above EPA LHAs:(off-base drinking water) Combined PFOA/PFOS= 152-1,688 ppt (on-base groundwater) Combined PFOA/PFOS= 264,300 ppt (on-base surface water) Combined PFOA/PFOS= non detect-8,830 ppt)
• Other Results PFAS or Range above EPA LHAs:N/A
• Suspected source: Firefighting foam used at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst
• Source: EWG from Department of Defense

NJ American Water - Western

• Population served: 264,586
• Testing dates: 07/03/18 - 07/13/18
• PFAS detected: PFOA, PFOS
• PFAS min - max: 0 - 13.3 ppt
• Source: EWG from drinking water test data

United Water Camden

• Population served: 46,585
• Testing dates: 01/17/18 - 11/14/18
• PFAS detected: PFBS, PFHpA, PFHxS, PFNA, PFOA, PFOS
• PFAS min - max: 0 - 713.6 ppt
• Source: EWG from drinking water test data

Gloucester City W Department

• Population served: 12,600
• Testing dates: 01/22/15 - 07/23/15
• PFAS detected: PFNA
• PFAS min - max: 52.1 - 52.7 ppt
• Source: EWG from drinking water test data

Woodbury City Water Department

• Population served: 11,485
• Testing dates: 05/13/13 - 11/14/13
• PFAS detected: PFNA
• PFAS min - max: 0 - 55.88 ppt
• Source: EWG from drinking water test data

West Deptford Twp Water Department

• Population served: 21,000
• Testing dates: 10/21/14 - 10/21/14
• PFAS detected: PFNA
• PFAS min - max: 0 - 30 ppt
• Source: EWG from drinking water test data

Paulsboro

• Location: Paulsboro, New Jersey
• Date of discovery: 2009
• Results (PFOS/ PFOA) or Range above EPA LHAs:PFOA in private wells: (450- 1,500 ppt). PFOA in Treatmant plant 2: (40-53 ppt); PFOA in Treatment plant 1: (42-96 ppt)
• Other Results PFAS or Range above EPA LHAs:PFNA: 96 ppt
• Suspected source: Solvay Specialty Polymer and Arkema
• Source: EWG from Northeastern University - Social Science Environmental Health Research Institute

Deepwater

• Location: Deepwater, New Jersey
• Date of discovery: 2008
• Results (PFOS/ PFOA) or Range above EPA LHAs:PFOA (12 - 2200 ppt)
• Other Results PFAS or Range above EPA LHAs:N/A
• Suspected source: DuPont Chambers Works Facility
• Source: EWG from Northeastern University - Social Science Environmental Health Research Institute

Aqua NJ - Blackwood

• Population served: 50,069
• Testing dates: 04/17/14 - 04/17/14
• PFAS detected: PFOA
• PFAS min - max: 0 - 26 ppt
• Source: EWG from drinking water test data

Washington Township MUA

• Population served: 48,000
• Testing dates: 09/17/15 - 09/17/15
• PFAS detected: PFOS
• PFAS min - max: 0 - 50.3 ppt
• Source: EWG from drinking water test data

NJ American Water - Logan

• Population served: 6,650
• Testing dates: 02/01/18 - 03/22/18
• PFAS detected: PFNA, PFOA
• PFAS min - max: 0 - 15.9 ppt
• Source: EWG from drinking water test data

Verona Water Department

• Population served: 13,641
• Testing dates: 09/03/15 - 09/03/15
• PFAS detected: PFOA
• PFAS min - max: 0 - 28.8 ppt
• Source: EWG from drinking water test data

Atlantic City Municipal Utilities Authority

• Population served: 152,415
• Testing dates: 02/25/15 - 12/21/15
• PFAS detected: PFHpA, PFHxS, PFOA, PFOS
• PFAS min - max: 57 - 312 ppt
• Source: EWG from drinking water test data

Should you worry? Lawmakers on Capitol Hill have called the presence of the chemicals in drinking water supplies a widespread public health crisis, and states and local communities are calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to set legally allowable limits — which currently don't exist — for the substances.

The new sites, discovered using different data sources, include public water systems, military bases, airports, industrial plants, dumps and firefighter training sites, EWG said.

PFAS are man-made chemicals found in industry and consumer products across the globe dating to the 1950s. They were used in nonstick cookware, water-repellent clothing and stain resistant fabrics and carpets, as well as certain cosmetics and firefighting foams. Additionally, PFAS were found in products that resist grease, water and oil, the group said.

PFAS contamination is a public health concern that federal and state health officials are interested in studying further, according to the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. The agency cited studies linking PFAS contamination to liver problems, low birth weight, some cancers and other health issues.

While more research is needed to determine just how toxic the chemicals are to humans and animals, the “forever chemical,” as it’s often called, has lawmakers on both sides of the aisle concerned.

Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, co-chairman of a congressional PFAS task force, has called PFAS “one of the most widespread public health crises” that Americans face today. Democratic Rep. Dan Kildee of Michigan has said veterans and their families have become increasingly alarmed about the chemical around bases.

“The Defense Department in particular has so far failed to act with the required urgency to address this growing problem,” he said earlier this year.

The most commonly studied PFAS are perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, or PFOS. Both have been phased out of production in America, but PFAS can seep into soil, water and air, and take thousands of years to break down. They remain in the environment and can even “build up in people and animals with repeated exposure over time,” federal health officials said.

Phil Brown, a professor of sociology and health sciences at Northeastern University and director of the Social Science Environmental Health Research Institute, said the EWG’s updated map shows PFAS contamination is “truly a nationwide problem.”

“Leaders in many communities and states are doing great work to raise awareness about PFAS and push for cleanup, but this is a national crisis demanding national action," said Brown.
The map shows contamination at 117 military sites.

More than 190 sites were contaminated in Michigan — a reflection of the state’s robust testing program — while 47 sites were contaminated in California.

Patch national staffers Justin Heinz and Dan Hampton contributed to this report.