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Is there PFAS in Nj American Water - Coastal North water?

Yes. EPA's final UCMR 5 results show Nj American Water - Coastal North averaged 7.2 ppt of PFOA at its worst sampling point, 1.8 times the EPA limit of 4 ppt.

Nj American Water - Coastal North Serves 377,613 people · 38 PFOA samples from 15 sampling points · Feb 2023 to Jul 2024 Average above an EPA limit
PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acid 7.2 ppt avg · max 7.5
EPA 4
PFOS Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid not detected
EPA 4
Hazard index GenX, PFBS, PFNA, PFHxS combined not detected
EPA 1

Also detected, no federal limit: PFBS, 6:2 FTS, PFPeA, PFHxA.

Averages are for the worst sampling point, with non-detects counted as zero. Source: EPA UCMR 5.

Nj American Water - Coastal North is a public water system drawing on surface water, based in Colts Neck, New Jersey, serving about 377,613 people, including Red Bank, Shrewsbury, Fair Haven, Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Atlantic Highlands. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 38 times across 15 sampling points between Feb 2023 and Jul 2024.

Every PFAS detected

PFAS Detected Highest Worst point avg EPA limit
PFBS
Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid
2 of 38 9.2 ppt 8.8 ppt none
PFOA
Perfluorooctanoic acid
18 of 38 7.5 ppt 7.2 ppt 4 ppt
6:2 FTS
6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonic acid
1 of 38 6.8 ppt 1.7 ppt none
PFPeA
Perfluoropentanoic acid
10 of 38 4.8 ppt 4.4 ppt none
PFHxA
Perfluorohexanoic acid
12 of 38 4.6 ppt 4.2 ppt none

Not detected: 9Cl-PF3ONS, PFHpS, PFPeS, NFDHA, PFEESA, PFMBA, PFMPA, 8:2 FTS, 4:2 FTS, PFBA, PFTrDA, ADONA, NEtFOSAA, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, PFUnA, PFDoA, PFDA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, PFHpA, HFPO-DA, NMeFOSAA, PFTA.

Lithium, tested in the same program: highest 10.2 ppb, detected in 1 of 38 samples. EPA's health-based screening level is 10 ppb.

What the EPA limits mean here

In April 2024 EPA set enforceable limits of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS, 10 ppt each for PFHxS, PFNA and GenX, and a hazard index of 1 for mixtures. Utilities were given until 2029 to comply. In May 2026 EPA proposed keeping only the PFOA and PFOS limits and moving that deadline to 2031. Until that proposal is final, the 2024 limits stand.

Compliance is judged on a running annual average at each entry point, so we show the average at this system's worst sampling point next to its single highest result. UCMR 5 results do not by themselves put a utility in or out of compliance.

What you can do at home

Two routes work for PFAS. For drinking and cooking water only, a reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI 58 with a PFOA/PFOS reduction claim is the cheapest proven option. To treat every tap and shower, a whole-house carbon system with enough contact time works, but check that the maker has PFAS test data, not just a marketing claim. See the best filters for PFAS and how PFAS removal works.

Other systems in New Jersey

All 266 tested systems in New Jersey

ZIP codes served

07701 07702 07704 07711 07712 07716 07718 07720 07722 07723 07724 07728 07731 07732 07733 07737 07738 07739 07740 07747 07748 07750 07752 07753 07755 07756 07757 07758 07760 07764 08701 08735 08738 08739 08742

As reported by the utility to EPA. Neighbouring ZIPs are often split between systems; your water bill names yours.

Cite this page

Well & Tap. "PFAS in Nj American Water - Coastal North water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID NJ1345001. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/new-jersey/nj-american-water-coastal-north/

About this data

Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID NJ1345001). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.