Arsenic Found In 194 New Jersey Tap Water Sources, New Report Says

At least 194 drinking water supplies in New Jersey have been contaminated with arsenic at concentrations above the level scientists say increases the risk of cancer, according to a report recently published by the Environmental Working Group.

The Environmental Working Group, a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to protecting human health and the environment, analyzed federal data from nationwide drinking water tests showing that the compound contaminates water supplies for more than 70 million Americans in 48 states.

The Environmental Protection Agency's legal limit for arsenic in tap water is actually 10 parts per billion, a level exceeded in 2015 in the water supplies for more than a half million people in 32 states. But the EPA's legal limit is 2,500 times higher than the public health goal set by California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.

For its analysis, the EWG used the California standards set after activist Erin Brockovich, who was featured in a movie starring Julia Roberts, fought to change them. The data was collected between 2010 and 2015.

In 1993 Brockovich was nearly successful in building a case that blamed the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) of California for contaminating local water.

"Arsenic is a notorious, deadly poison," according to the report published Wednesday on EWG's website. "Exposure to even tiny concentrations of arsenic in drinking water is proven to increase the risk of bladder, lung and skin cancer, and possibly liver, kidney and prostate cancer as well.

"The risk of cancer is even higher when exposed during early childhood and pregnancy. Prenatal exposure has also been shown to harm the immune system, cause behavioral problems and impair intelligence."

The EPA issued a statement on the report, saying it's working to "ensuring safe drinking water for all Americans is a top priority for EPA." The agency is working on an assessment that will evaluate the health effects of toxins found in drinking water.

Below is a list of large utilities in New Jersey that exceeded the report's acceptable level of arsenic. A list of small New Jersey utilities that have some of that state's highest concentrations of contaminants, including arsenic, follows.

• Atlantic City Municipal Utilities Authority
• Avalon Water and Sewerage Utilities
• Berlin Water Department
• Bloomfield Water Department
• Brigantine Water Department
• Cape May Water & Sewer
• Fair Lawn Water Department
• Garfield Water Department
• Hackettstown MUA
• Keansburg Water & Sewer Department
• Longport Water Department
• Margate City Water Department
• NJ American Water - Short Hills
• Park Ridge Water Department
• Pennsville Twsp. Water Department
• Ramsey Water Department
• Ridgewood Water
• Verona Water Department
• Vineland Water & Sewer Utility
• Winslow Township DMU

Small utilities that are among those with the highest amount of contaminants, including arsenic:

• Bass River Township (Buttonwood Mobile Home Park)
• Budd Lake (Mount Olive Villages Water)
• Ewing Township (Mercer County Correctional Center)
• Mantua (Manor Water Associations)
• Mendham (Sisters of Christian Charity)
• Pittsgrove (Rainbow Nursing Home Inc.
• West Milford Township Bald Eagle Village
• West Milford Township Municipal Utilities Authority Crescent Park
• West Milford Township Municipal Utilities Authority Greenbrook Estates

Read the whole report here.

Patch file photo