NJ Drinking Water Standards

On November 1, 2017, NJDEP Commissioner, Bob Martin, received the criteria established by the New Jersey Drinking Water Quality Institute relative to permissible levels of Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). PFOA is a synthetic chemical in the manufacturing of commercial products such as Teflon coatings. The new accepted level is 14 ng/L or 14 parts per trillion.
In 2016, Mayor Carolann Garafola and Deputy Mayor, Victor Sordillo, were tasked by the Township Committee to investigate PFOA in Warren Township’s public water supply. They were assisted by Kevin Sumner, Health Officer; John Truglio, member of the WTSA; and Mal Plager, President of the Board of Health. The group obtained information and protocols regarding testing for PFOA and then conducted testing at five publicly-owned locations in different areas of Warren and obtained ranges of PFOA between 4.7 ng/L and 7.2 ng/L.
The results of the testing showed that PFOA in Warren is nearly half of the current accepted standard established by the Commissioner of the NJDEP.
The Township Committee and the Board of Health are extremely concerned about the safety of our water supply and they have been proactive on this issue through our 2016 investigation into PFOA. The Township Committee is very happy to report that pursuant to our testing results, the public water supply in Warren is well within the safe drinking water standards for PFOA.