We analyzed tap water quality data for hundreds of cities in New Jersey to identify the 25 with the most contaminants exceeding health guidelines. This ranking is based on 2026 data from the EPA and EWG databases.
While all public water systems must meet EPA legal limits, many health experts — including the Environmental Working Group — argue that these legal limits are outdated and don't reflect current scientific understanding of safe exposure levels. The cities below have the widest gap between what's in their water and what's considered safe by modern health standards.
Rankings at a Glance
Camden, New Jersey
Camden has 24 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 48 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Camden water report →Livingston, New Jersey
Livingston has 24 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 48 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Livingston water report →Ramsey, New Jersey
Ramsey has 23 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 46 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Ramsey water report →Moorestown, New Jersey
Moorestown has 22 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 48 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Moorestown water report →East Hanover Township, New Jersey
East Hanover Township has 22 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 44 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full East Hanover Township water report →Maple Shade, New Jersey
Maple Shade has 22 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 39 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Maple Shade water report →Essex Falls, New Jersey
Essex Falls has 21 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 45 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Essex Falls water report →Woodbury, New Jersey
Woodbury has 21 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 44 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Woodbury water report →Point Pleaseant Beach, New Jersey
Point Pleaseant Beach has 21 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 42 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Point Pleaseant Beach water report →Short Hills, New Jersey
Short Hills has 21 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 41 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Short Hills water report →Glassboro, New Jersey
Glassboro has 21 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 40 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Glassboro water report →National Park, New Jersey
National Park has 21 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 40 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full National Park water report →Woodbury Heights, New Jersey
Woodbury Heights has 21 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 40 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Woodbury Heights water report →Matawan, New Jersey
Matawan has 21 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 39 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Matawan water report →Keansburg, New Jersey
Keansburg has 21 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 37 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Keansburg water report →Pennsauken, New Jersey
Pennsauken has 20 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 45 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Pennsauken water report →Park Ridge, New Jersey
Park Ridge has 20 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 45 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Park Ridge water report →Rocky Hill, New Jersey
Rocky Hill has 20 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 44 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Rocky Hill water report →Garfield, New Jersey
Garfield has 20 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 43 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Garfield water report →Braddock, New Jersey
Braddock has 20 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 42 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Braddock water report →Ridgewood, New Jersey
Ridgewood has 20 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 41 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Ridgewood water report →West Deptford, New Jersey
West Deptford has 20 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 41 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full West Deptford water report →Hopewell, New Jersey
Hopewell has 20 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 41 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Hopewell water report →Mickleton, New Jersey
Mickleton has 20 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 40 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Mickleton water report →Winfield Twp, New Jersey
Winfield Twp has 20 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 39 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Winfield Twp water report →What We Found: Key Patterns
The most frequently detected contaminants exceeding health guidelines across these cities are Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, Haloacetic acids (HAA5). These appear repeatedly across different water systems and regions.
Water quality varies significantly even within the same state, driven by local geology, agricultural activity, and industrial proximity.
Across all ranked cities, 526 contaminant readings exceed EWG health guidelines, but only 23 exceed EPA legal limits. This gap of 503 highlights how legal standards may not fully protect public health — EPA limits haven't been updated for many contaminants in decades.
Full Rankings Table
| Rank | City | State | Detected | Above Guidelines | Above Legal | People Served |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Camden | NJ | 48 | 24 | 2 | 46,585 |
| 2 | Livingston | NJ | 48 | 24 | 1 | 27,391 |
| 3 | Ramsey | NJ | 46 | 23 | 1 | 15,207 |
| 4 | Moorestown | NJ | 48 | 22 | 0 | 20,700 |
| 5 | East Hanover Township | NJ | 44 | 22 | 2 | 11,393 |
| 6 | Maple Shade | NJ | 39 | 22 | 0 | 19,400 |
| 7 | Essex Falls | NJ | 45 | 21 | 2 | 2,200 |
| 8 | Woodbury | NJ | 44 | 21 | 0 | 9,963 |
| 9 | Point Pleaseant Beach | NJ | 42 | 21 | 0 | 12,520 |
| 10 | Short Hills | NJ | 41 | 21 | 1 | 217,230 |
| 11 | Glassboro | NJ | 40 | 21 | 0 | 24,244 |
| 12 | National Park | NJ | 40 | 21 | 2 | 3,144 |
| 13 | Woodbury Heights | NJ | 40 | 21 | 0 | 3,008 |
| 14 | Matawan | NJ | 39 | 21 | 0 | 9,084 |
| 15 | Keansburg | NJ | 37 | 21 | 0 | 10,105 |
| 16 | Pennsauken | NJ | 45 | 20 | 2 | 47,144 |
| 17 | Park Ridge | NJ | 45 | 20 | 1 | 16,466 |
| 18 | Rocky Hill | NJ | 44 | 20 | 1 | 45,450 |
| 19 | Garfield | NJ | 43 | 20 | 2 | 30,487 |
| 20 | Braddock | NJ | 42 | 20 | 0 | 39,174 |
| 21 | Ridgewood | NJ | 41 | 20 | 2 | 61,700 |
| 22 | West Deptford | NJ | 41 | 20 | 0 | 22,000 |
| 23 | Hopewell | NJ | 41 | 20 | 2 | 0 |
| 24 | Mickleton | NJ | 40 | 20 | 1 | 0 |
| 25 | Winfield Twp | NJ | 39 | 20 | 1 | 1,600 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What city has the worst tap water in New Jersey?
Based on 2026 data, Camden, NJ has the most contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines among the cities we analyzed.
How are cities ranked in this report?
Cities are ranked by the number of contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines. These guidelines are typically stricter than EPA legal limits and reflect current scientific research on safe exposure levels.
Is my tap water safe if my city isn't on this list?
Not necessarily. Even cities not on this list may have contaminants of concern. We recommend checking your specific water quality using our free water scan tool.
What's the best water filter for contaminated water?
A reverse osmosis (RO) system is the most effective for removing the widest range of contaminants. For whole-home protection, a combination of RO for drinking water and a whole-home filter for showers and baths is recommended.
Related Reports
Data sources: Environmental Working Group (EWG) Tap Water Database, U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
Last updated: April 2026
Methodology: Contaminant levels are compared against both EPA legal limits (Maximum Contaminant Levels) and EWG health guidelines, which are often stricter and based on the latest scientific research.
