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Jersey City Drinking Water
Suez Water released a report on January 16, 2019, regarding elevated levels of lead in the drinking water in a limited number of homes in Bergen and Hudson counties. This report EXCLUDES Jersey City, Bayonne, Kearney, and Hoboken as we operate from a separate system. The water serviced to Jersey City residents is tested on a frequent basis and continues to meet all government standards.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Our residents’ drinking water comes from the Jersey City Reservoir located in Boonton and Parsippany, as well as the Split Rock Reservoir in Rockaway.
Yes. Together, the Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority (JCMUA) and SUEZ, provide you with water that meets —and often surpasses — all the health and safety standards set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). The water is purified at the Jersey City Water Treatment Plant in Boonton, which purifies 50 million gallons of water a day on average.
To ensure the safety of our water, SUEZ monitors it before, during, and after the treatment process. SUEZ uses coagulants and filters the water to remove impurities and microscopic particles before the water is disinfected. Lastly, SUEZ applies corrosion control chemicals to reduce the chance of lead and copper dissolving in the water from household plumbing.
SUEZ routinely tests the water at the rivers, lakes, and streams that supply drinking water. The company samples and tests treated water to be 100% confident that it remains pure as it travels to homes. Since 2016, when the state and federal lead and copper guidelines were made more stringent, SUEZ Water has met its requirement to collect samples between June 1st and September 30th from single- and multi-family homes, as well as buildings built prior to 1986. Since this testing began, the lead levels in Jersey City have always exceeded the standards set by the EPA.
The results from the most recent lead and copper sampling schedule, which is ongoing, have exceeded compliance levels within the NJDEP regulations. So far this summer, SUEZ has completed nearly 75% of the required testing. All of those samples have tested well within these federal and state guidelines. A copy of the latest Jersey City water quality report can be found here.
All the test results are on file with the NJDEP, the agency that monitors and regulates drinking water quality in our state. The EPA and the NJDEP establish these regulations and require water suppliers to provide a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) to customers on an annual basis.
SUEZ operates a Corrosion Control Treatment Process at the Jersey City Treatment Plant in Boonton. This process applies phosphate to the pipes which provide a barrier from lead and copper that could potentially affect the mains and pipes entering local homes and businesses. Corrosion control has been an ongoing effort in Jersey City, which continues to improve water quality throughout the distribution system.