Definition

Percentage of community water systems in compliance with all current state and federal drinking water requirements for water quality.

Numerator

Number of community water systems in compliance with all current state and federal drinking water requirements for water quality.

Denominator

Total number of community water systems.

Why Is This Important?

Community water systems serve about 85% of New Jersey's residents, and are expected to comply with all current state and federal drinking water requirements for water quality. A water quality report is provided annually to customers by water suppliers, and drinking water quality is monitored by state certified water testing laboratories.

Healthy People Objective: Increase the proportion of persons served by community water systems who receive a supply of drinking water that meets the regulations of the Safe Drinking Water Act

U.S. Target: 91 percent

Other Objectives

'''Healthy New Jersey 2020 Objective EH-4''': Increase the percentage of community water systems in compliance with all current state and federal drinking water requirements for water quality to 100% for chemical standards, 100% for radiological standards, and 100% for microbiological standards.

How Are We Doing?

Between 2005 and 2020, the compliance rates for microbiological, chemical, and radiological standards in New Jersey's community water systems remained very high. In 2010, new requirements for advanced treatment on water systems serving groundwater, known as the Groundwater Rule, went into effect, as did the requirement for mandatory electronic reporting of test results.

What Is Being Done?

The Safe Drinking Water Act, passed in 1974, requires that actions be taken to protect drinking water and its sources. The act authorized the US EPA to set national health-based standards for drinking water which could then be made more stringent by individual states. The Safe Drinking Water Act applies to all public drinking water systems in the United States.

Health Program Information

For concerns regarding Federal and State drinking water regulations and public water supply monitoring results, contact the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Safe Drinking Water Implementation or Bureau of Safe Drinking Water Technical Assistance, (609) 292-5550. To inquire about NJ certified laboratories for testing of drinking water, contact the Office of Quality Assurance at (609) 292-3950. For information on Federal drinking water regulations and other water safety issues, contact the United States Environmental Protection Agency Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791. Contact your Public Water Utility for public drinking water regulations and monitoring results.