Is there PFAS in Nj American Water - Short Hills water?
Yes. EPA's final UCMR 5 results show Nj American Water - Short Hills averaged 6.5 ppt of PFOA at its worst sampling point, 1.6 times the EPA limit of 4 ppt.
Nj American Water - Short Hills
Serves 217,230 people · 30 PFOA samples from 12 sampling points · Feb 2023 to Aug 2024
Average above an EPA limit
PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acid
6.5 ppt avg · max 9.1
PFOS Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
2.5 ppt avg · max 6.1
PFHxS Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid
1.8 ppt avg · max 3.6
Hazard index GenX, PFBS, PFNA, PFHxS combined
0.2 avg · max 0.4
Also detected, no federal limit: PFPeA, PFHxA, PFBA, PFBS.
Nj American Water - Short Hills is a public water system drawing on surface water, based in Short Hills, New Jersey, serving about 217,230 people, including Livingston, Maplewood, Millburn, Verona, West Orange, Warren. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 30 times across 12 sampling points between Feb 2023 and Aug 2024.
Every PFAS detected
Not detected: PFDA, PFNA, PFHpA, PFTrDA, NEtFOSAA, NMeFOSAA, PFUnA, ADONA, PFTA, PFEESA, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, PFDoA, PFHpS, NFDHA, PFMBA, PFMPA, 4:2 FTS, 6:2 FTS, 9Cl-PF3ONS, HFPO-DA, 8:2 FTS, PFPeS.
Lithium, tested in the same program: highest 28.2 ppb, detected in 5 of 30 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
07039 07040 07041 07044 07052 07059 07069 07078 07079 07081 07083 07088 07111 07869 07901 07920 07921 07922 07924 07926 07928 07930 07931 07932 07933 07934 07935 07936 07938 07939 07940 07945 07946 07960 07974 07978 07980
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 - Short Hills water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID NJ0712001. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/new-jersey/nj-american-water-short-hills/
About this data
Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID NJ0712001). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.
