New Jersey tap water / Water systems
Trenton Water Works: 2025 water quality report results
In its 2025 water quality report, the Trenton Water Works reported PFOA at 1.33 ppt, PFOS at 0.99 ppt and PFNA at 0.32 ppt (amount detected). PFOA, PFOS and PFNA are below both the New Jersey and federal limits. Lead at the 90th percentile of home taps: 4.40 ppb. Hardness: 107 mg/L (moderately hard).
Correction, November 7, 2026. From October 30 to November 7, 2026, the pages for Trenton Water Works and the towns it serves (Trenton and Ewing) said the system's 2025 report gave no value for PFOA or PFNA, and showed PFOS only. The report does list them: PFOA at 1.33 ppt and PFNA at 0.32 ppt in its Amount Detected column. The pages now show all three. All three values are below New Jersey's and EPA's limits, so the PFAS result for these towns hasn't changed. All corrections.
2025 results against New Jersey and federal limits
Amount detected in the 2025 report
Below both limits
Amount detected in the 2025 report
Below both limits
Amount detected in the 2025 report
Below both limits
The dashed line is EPA's PFNA limit, which EPA has proposed withdrawing; the proposal isn't final (status as of November 2026).
Each bar shows the amount detected reported for this system, in parts per trillion (ppt), against both limits.
| Measure | Reported | NJ limit | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOAPerfluorooctanoic acid | 1.33 ppt | 14 ppt | 4 ppt | Below both limits |
| PFOSPerfluorooctane sulfonic acid | 0.99 ppt | 13 ppt | 4 ppt | Below both limits |
| PFNAPerfluorononanoic acid | 0.32 ppt | 13 ppt | 10 ppt | Below both limits |
| Lead90th percentile of home taps | 4.40 ppbHigher of two 2025 sampling rounds: 4.40 ppb in round 2, 3.27 ppb in round 1. | Action level 15 ppb (10 ppb from November 2027) | Below action level | |
| ChlorideSecondary standard | 53.90 ppmAmount detected, 2025 | 250 ppm recommended upper limitNot enforceable | 250 ppmSecondary standard, not enforceable | Below recommended limit |
| SodiumSecondary standard | 24.10 ppmAmount detected, 2025 | 50 ppm recommended upper limitNot enforceable | None | Below recommended limit |
| Hardness | 107 mg/L (6.3 gpg)The utility's report lists one value for hardness, 107 mg/L (2025). | 250 mg/L recommended upper limitFor taste and appearance; not enforceable | None | Class: moderately hardA description, not a limit comparison |
The report doesn't say whether that figure is a single result or an average.
The 2025 report doesn't list arsenic or 1,2,3-trichloropropane. New Jersey sets its own limits for arsenic (stricter than the federal one) and 1,2,3-trichloropropane (no federal limit); its sodium and chloride limits are recommended upper limits, not enforceable. Federal limits as of November 2026.
According to EPA, lead gets into drinking water when plumbing that contains lead corrodes, and where a home has a lead service line, that pipe is typically the largest source. So a home's own tap can differ from the system-wide 90th percentile.
EPA kept its 4 ppt limits for PFOA and PFOS. Utilities must meet them by 2029; EPA has proposed letting systems request until 2031. In May 2026, EPA proposed withdrawing its national limits for PFNA, PFHxS, GenX (HFPO-DA) and a combined limit for PFAS mixtures. The proposal isn't final yet; EPA plans to decide in 2026. New Jersey's own PFNA limit is unaffected. (Status as of November 2026.)
Compare the Trenton Water Works with other New Jersey water systems in one table of 2025 PFAS results, or see hardness across the same systems.
Choosing a water filter
The utility's PFAS compliance results were below the federal limits. If you still want a filter, or you're concerned about lead from your home's pipes, look for one certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for the contaminant you care about.
Towns served by the Trenton Water Works
Water sources
The water is treated at the TWW filtration plant on Roure 29 South and piped to the distribution system.
Source. 2025 water quality report, Trenton Water Works. Also: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System; EPA UCMR 5.
Checked against the original report in October and November 2026. See how we check the data. Found an error? Tell us.