TapSafetyReport
D28/100

TOTOWA W DEPT — Water Quality Report 2026

Serving 10,804 people · New Jersey

Water Source
Purchased Surface Water
County
—
System ID
NJ1612001
Violations
54

Contaminant Test Results

3 contaminants above EPA health goals
ContaminantDetectedLimit (MCL)Status
PFOA
0.004 µg/L0.004 µg/LOver Limit
chlorate
220.00 µg/L—Above Goal
Lead (90th percentile)
0.004 mg/L0.015 mg/LAbove Goal

EPA Violation History

6

Violations (last 5yr)

3

Unresolved

0

Health-Related

TIER 3Unresolved

Failed Level 2 Assessment under Revised Total Coliform Rule

This is a paperwork/process violation — it does not mean a contaminant was detected at unsafe levels.

When: September 1, 2025 – September 30, 2025Rule: Stage 1 DBPRVerify on EPA.gov
TIER 3Unresolved

Surface water treatment technique failure

When: July 1, 2025Enforcement: Informal — resolved cooperativelyVerify on EPA.gov
TIER 3Unresolved

Monitoring / Reporting Violation

This is a paperwork/process violation — it does not mean a contaminant was detected at unsafe levels.

When: December 30, 2024Rule: Ground Water RuleEnforcement: Informal — resolved cooperativelyVerify on EPA.gov
TIER 3Resolved

Failed Level 2 Assessment under Revised Total Coliform Rule

This is a paperwork/process violation — it does not mean a contaminant was detected at unsafe levels.

When: October 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024Rule: Stage 1 DBPREnforcement: Resolving — corrective action underway
TIER 3Resolved

Failed to issue ongoing public notification

This is a paperwork/process violation — it does not mean a contaminant was detected at unsafe levels.

When: October 1, 2024 – August 16, 2024Rule: Ground Water RuleEnforcement: Resolving — corrective action underway
TIER 3Resolved

Failed to complete routine monitoring

This is a paperwork/process violation — it does not mean a contaminant was detected at unsafe levels.

When: November 1, 2021 – November 30, 2021Rule: Surface Water Treatment RuleEnforcement: Resolving — corrective action underway

Understanding violation severity

Tier 1Urgent health risk. Utility must notify all customers within 24 hours.Tier 2Important health or treatment issue. Customers notified within 30 days.Tier 3Administrative or monitoring issue. Reported in the annual water quality report.

Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · Updated quarterly

Frequently Asked Questions About TOTOWA W DEPT

Is TOTOWA W DEPT water safe to drink?

TOTOWA W DEPT water receives a grade of D (28/100), which is considered poor. 1 contaminant(s) exceed EPA legal limits and 54 violation(s) are on record. Customers may want to consider using a water filter.

What contaminants has TOTOWA W DEPT detected?

69 contaminants were tested in TOTOWA W DEPT's water. Notable contaminants include PFOA, Lead (90th percentile), chlorate. 1 exceed EPA legal limits (MCLs). 3 exceed EPA health goals (MCLGs).

Does TOTOWA W DEPT have any EPA violations?

Yes, TOTOWA W DEPT has 54 EPA violation(s) on record, with the most recent in 2025. Violation types include MR, Other, MCL. 1 are health-based violations.

How many people does TOTOWA W DEPT serve?

TOTOWA W DEPT serves approximately 10,804 people, New Jersey. The system provides water to 1 community: Totowa Boro-1612.

What type of water does TOTOWA W DEPT provide?

TOTOWA W DEPT sources its water from purchased surface water. Surface water comes from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs and typically requires more extensive treatment. The utility's system ID is NJ1612001.

How does TOTOWA W DEPT compare to other utilities in New Jersey?

TOTOWA W DEPT scores 28/100 with a grade of D (poor). This score suggests significant water quality concerns relative to other utilities. Visit our New Jersey state page for a full comparison of water systems.

Cities Served

Totowa Boro-1612