Public water system · NJ0719001
ActiveSouth Orange Water Department
At a glance
South Orange Water Department (PWSID NJ0719001) is an active community water system in Essex County, New Jersey. It reports serving 16,964 people through 4,621 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, none is health-based, and the most recent began in July 2016.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
16,964
Service connections
4,621
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does South Orange Water Department compare with other water systems in Essex County?
By EPA's size categories, South Orange Water Department is a large system (10,001 to 100,000 people). Essex County has 24 active public water systems. Its population served is about 40% below the county average of 28,269 people per system, and accounts for 2.5% of the 678,447 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across New Jersey, the 3,496 active systems average 2,750 people each. Nationally, the average active community water system reports serving 6,703 people, so South Orange Water Department is about 153% above that figure.
What does “community water system” mean?
A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. New Jersey has 582 active community water systems, 17% of the state's 3,496 active systems. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own. 128 New Jersey systems (3.7%) list purchased surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates South Orange Water Department?
EPA lists South Orange Water Department as owned by a local government. The NJ state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 20 of the 24 active systems in Essex County (83%) are also owned by a local government.
Does South Orange Water Department have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, none is health-based, and the most recent began in July 2016. The violations listed here began between January 2011 and July 2016. By type: 12 monitoring and reporting. The contaminants or rules involved are Lead and Copper Rule, Surface Water Treatment Rule, E. coli and Mercury. EPA lists 12 as resolved. Resolved means at least one resolving action is on record: the system returned to compliance, the rule no longer applies, or no further action was needed.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingWater Quality Parameter M/R · code 53 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring of Treatment (SWTR-Filter) · code 36 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | No | Resolved |
| 2013-04-11 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Source Water (GWR) · code 34 | E. colicode 3014 | No | Resolved |
| 2011-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Mercurycode 1035 | No | Resolved |
| 2011-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Cyanidecode 1024 | No | Resolved |
| 2011-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Chromiumcode 1020 | No | Resolved |
| 2011-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Bariumcode 1010 | No | Resolved |
| 2011-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Fluoridecode 1025 | No | Resolved |
| 2011-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Seleniumcode 1045 | No | Resolved |
| 2011-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Arseniccode 1005 | No | Resolved |
| 2011-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Cadmiumcode 1015 | No | Resolved |
| 2011-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nickelcode 1036 | No | Resolved |
The 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, newest first.Labels and codes come from EPA's SDWIS reference tables. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found. "Health-based" marks violations of a legal limit or required treatment.
South Orange Water Department: frequently asked questions
Who runs South Orange Water Department?
South Orange Water Department (PWSID NJ0719001) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the NJ state drinking water program.
How many people does South Orange Water Department serve?
South Orange Water Department reports serving 16,964 people through 4,621 service connections in Essex County, New Jersey.
Where does South Orange Water Department get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as purchased surface water. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own.
Does South Orange Water Department have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, none is health-based, and the most recent began in July 2016. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found.
Is South Orange Water Department's water safe to drink?
AquaCensus shows EPA compliance records, not current water test results, so it cannot say whether the water is safe at a given moment. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, none is health-based, and the most recent began in July 2016. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the NJ state drinking water program.
Where can I find South Orange Water Department's water quality report?
As a community water system, South Orange Water Department must deliver an annual water quality report, called a Consumer Confidence Report, to its customers by July 1 each year, covering the previous calendar year. The system can provide a copy on request.
Other water systems in Essex County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newark Water Department | Essex | 294,274 | Community | Surface water |
| East Orange Water Commission | Essex | 75,000 | Community | Groundwater |
| Bloomfield Water Department | Essex | 53,315 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Montclair Water Bureau | Essex | 40,150 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Belleville Water Dept | Essex | 35,129 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Orange Water Dept | Essex | 30,134 | Community | Purchased surface water |
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About this data
Source: U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and SDWA violation records, via EPA ECHO, as published October 1, 2026 — AquaCensus refreshes it quarterly. See the methodology for how records are matched, cleaned and scored.
Cite as: AquaCensus, “South Orange Water Department, PWSID NJ0719001, New Jersey”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/new-jersey/south-orange-water-department-nj0719001 (data as of October 1, 2026).