Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in New Jersey Waters
Scientists from the New Jersey Water Science Center are working with drinking-water purveyors to assess the occurrence and distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in New Jersey surface waters. These studies will enhance current water-quality assessments in NJ watersheds by characterizing PFAS occurrence in surface water at select locations that have the potential to directly affect public drinking water quality. Information provided will help guide mitigation and management decisions designed to meet future drinking water regulations for PFAS in NJ.
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of thousands of manmade chemicals that are a concern to human-health due to their environmental prevalence and persistence and human exposures through food and drinking water. Source pathways of PFAS to drinking water are diverse and include, biosolids application, outdoor products (e.g., ski waxes), industrial releases, firefighting foams, and discharges from wastewater treatment, septic, stormwater, and landfill systems. PFAS have been detected globally in surface and groundwater drinking–water resources and in public drinking–water supplies prior to distribution and in US tapwater.
Drinking water regulations for PFAS have been changing rapidly over the last two decades in support of protecting public health. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has enforceable maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for three PFAS including PFOA (14 ng/L), PFNA (13 ng/L) and PFOS (13 ng/L). To prepare for the implementation of Federal PFAS regulatory limits for public water facilities, these studies aim to broaden our understanding of PFAS in surface water throughout the state which will help water purveyors better prepare for impending federal regulations.
North Jersey District Water Supply Authority has partnered with the NJWSC to assess the occurrence of PFAS in North Jersey surface waters which included the collection of samples from sites in the Ramapo, Passaic, Pompton, and Wanaque watersheds in 2025 under varying flow conditions.
The New Jersey Water Supply Authority has partnered with the NJWSC to assess the occurrence of PFAS in the Manasquan Water Supply System, which includes sampling sites along the Manasquan River and its tributaries under baseflow conditions in 2024-2025.
Both projects will also involve an additional analysis of known or presumptive PFAS sources in the watersheds of interest.
PFAS Studies in New Jersey
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PFAS in surface waters of the non-tidal Passaic River Basin PFAS in surface waters of the non-tidal Passaic River Basin
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of thousands of manmade chemicals that are a concern to human-health due to their environmental prevalence and persistence and human exposures through food and drinking water. This study was designed to understand the presence and concentrations of PFAS in surface waters of the Passaic River Basin.
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Contaminant Fate and Transport Studies in Fractured Sedimentary Rock Aquifers at the former Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC), West Trenton, N.J.
Contaminants associated with industrial, airport, and other activities are present in groundwater in fractured-rock aquifers, posing long-term hazards to drinking-water supplies and ecosystems. The heterogeneous character of fractured rock challenges our understanding, monitoring, and remediation of such sites.
Scientists from the New Jersey Water Science Center are working with drinking-water purveyors to assess the occurrence and distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in New Jersey surface waters. These studies will enhance current water-quality assessments in NJ watersheds by characterizing PFAS occurrence in surface water at select locations that have the potential to directly affect public drinking water quality. Information provided will help guide mitigation and management decisions designed to meet future drinking water regulations for PFAS in NJ.
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of thousands of manmade chemicals that are a concern to human-health due to their environmental prevalence and persistence and human exposures through food and drinking water. Source pathways of PFAS to drinking water are diverse and include, biosolids application, outdoor products (e.g., ski waxes), industrial releases, firefighting foams, and discharges from wastewater treatment, septic, stormwater, and landfill systems. PFAS have been detected globally in surface and groundwater drinking–water resources and in public drinking–water supplies prior to distribution and in US tapwater.
Drinking water regulations for PFAS have been changing rapidly over the last two decades in support of protecting public health. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has enforceable maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for three PFAS including PFOA (14 ng/L), PFNA (13 ng/L) and PFOS (13 ng/L). To prepare for the implementation of Federal PFAS regulatory limits for public water facilities, these studies aim to broaden our understanding of PFAS in surface water throughout the state which will help water purveyors better prepare for impending federal regulations.
North Jersey District Water Supply Authority has partnered with the NJWSC to assess the occurrence of PFAS in North Jersey surface waters which included the collection of samples from sites in the Ramapo, Passaic, Pompton, and Wanaque watersheds in 2025 under varying flow conditions.
The New Jersey Water Supply Authority has partnered with the NJWSC to assess the occurrence of PFAS in the Manasquan Water Supply System, which includes sampling sites along the Manasquan River and its tributaries under baseflow conditions in 2024-2025.
Both projects will also involve an additional analysis of known or presumptive PFAS sources in the watersheds of interest.
PFAS Studies in New Jersey
-
PFAS in surface waters of the non-tidal Passaic River Basin PFAS in surface waters of the non-tidal Passaic River Basin
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of thousands of manmade chemicals that are a concern to human-health due to their environmental prevalence and persistence and human exposures through food and drinking water. This study was designed to understand the presence and concentrations of PFAS in surface waters of the Passaic River Basin.
-
-
Contaminant Fate and Transport Studies in Fractured Sedimentary Rock Aquifers at the former Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC), West Trenton, N.J.
Contaminants associated with industrial, airport, and other activities are present in groundwater in fractured-rock aquifers, posing long-term hazards to drinking-water supplies and ecosystems. The heterogeneous character of fractured rock challenges our understanding, monitoring, and remediation of such sites.