Livingston, New Jersey - Tap Water Quality

But let's share some good news. All levels of biological and radiological contaminants, pesticides and left-over disinfecting products were either undetectable or well within EPA limits.

Among the most common and concerning contaminants in tap water are a group known as 'heavy metals', including Lead, Arsenic, Chromium, Mercury and Cadmium. So harmful are these toxic substances to human health that the EPA limits their presence in tap water to between two and one hundred parts per billion, the equivalent of one drop in a large hot tub.

So in Livingston, although neither mercury nor cadmium were detected, low levels of lead, arsenic and chromium, at 43%, 13% and 1.6% of the EPA maximum respectively were present, but all within EPA limits.

However, the ultimate goal for both lead and arsenic is to be so low as to be undetectable.

On a more positive note, no other significant issues were detected in Livingston tap water. Various other contaminants including disinfection byproducts (TTHM and HAA5), nitrate, and radiological contaminants (Gross Alpha, Radium, Uranium) were all detected at levels within EPA limits.

Not to be outdone by nature, man himself has created nearly indestructible “Forever Chemicals” or PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances). In the 1930s, chemists had the “bright idea” of bonding Carbon, the element of life, to Fluorine, among the most reactive of elements. Non-stick pans, water-resistant clothing, industrial fire retardant, were the result. But, was it worth the terrible consequences associated with long-term exposure, such as increased cancer rates, reduced response to vaccines, elevated cholesterol levels, endocrine disruption, and reproductive and developmental issues?

In 2024, the EPA set an almost unimaginably low tap water limit of 4 parts per trillion (ppt), for certain PFAS compounds—the equivalent of one drop in five Olympic-sized swimming pools. It had only become clear to the general public, about a decade earlier, how toxic these chemicals were, at miniscule, trace amounts. But manufacturers had some idea, as early as the 1950s, as evidenced by corporate documents.

Livingston's tap water issues are actually well over 100,000 years in the making, long before even the Passaic River was carved. Livingston sits over an ancient buried valley, originally carved into the bedrock by the titanic forces of ancient rivers and much later, glaciers that towered over 1,000 feet. As the earth exited the last ice age, between 18,000 and 12,000 years ago, the glaciers retreated and left in their wake, relatively soft sand, gravel, and clay (glacial drift) that filled the deep bedrock canyon, burying the valley below.

Livingston happens to sit over one of the buried valley low points, which is a natural collecting pot for bountiful supplies of water. Since the buried valley consists of soft shale, water is much easier to access via wells, without the need to cut into the underlying bedrock. Unfortunately, the runoff from local heavy industry that worked with PFAS during the 2nd half of the 20th century, also tended to accumulate in this low point. Hence, the problem. A known pastime for local children in the 1960s and 1970s was checking out the ever-changing color of the Passaic River due to industrial runoff.

So only in relatively recent times has the toxicity of PFAS become widely known, with corresponding state and federal legislation following about a decade later. Not long after the township put into action a plan for bringing PFAS levels into legal compliance. Indeed, no level of certain types of PFAS is considered safe for human consumption. Unfortunately, water supply upgrades take years to implement. So in the meantime, the optimal solution is home water filtration.

To make matters worse, the action of Livingston's many local water wells themselves can create 'cones of depression', lowering the water table around the wells and contributing to the collection of contaminants from great distances.

At a cost of about $1,000 per resident, Livingston is employing a dual-technology approach, which is considered by many to be the gold standard for PFAS removal at the municipality level.

• Granular Activated Carbon (GAC): Water passes through large vessels filled with porous carbon. PFAS molecules “stick” to the carbon surface (adsorption), effectively removing them from the stream.
• Ion Exchange (AIX) Resins: These are specialized “magnets” (anion exchange) that specifically attract and bind PFAS chemicals. This technology is often more effective at capturing “short-chain” PFAS that GAC might miss.

Although most of us have been unknowingly drinking water that was far from ideal for decades, the future looks brighter for tap water. The township's current upgrades and your own properly certified home water filter, should inspire a certain level of confidence in the healthfulness of your tap water. And it's not only about human health. It's also about earth's health. There's no Planet B. Water delivered directly to your tap is a highly eco-friendly method compared to purchasing water in plastic bottles.

To better understand our grading system, think of H₂O, or water, as nature’s masterpiece. Marking it up, or adding contaminants, generally diminishes its quality. Purer water or at least within all EPA limits will result in a good grade. Note that there are a few exceptions to the “less is more” rule. Fluoride, in the right quantity, can contribute to long term dental health, especially in children. Calcium, magnesium and potassium are also important nutrients. Note that these nutrients can also be obtained with a balanced diet or in the case of fluorine, by using fluoridated toothpaste.

The F, Poor rating is the worst in the local area. Nearby Orange, New Jersey with no detectable lead, arsenic or forever chemicals, was the only local municipality to rate excellent. Remember, we are rating the current state of Livingston's tap water, not the way the township is responding to the issue. We believe that we will see much better results in the years to come.