Ocean County, New Jersey has about 666,434 residents (Census 2024 estimate) and 57 community water systems in EPA records. The largest local system is Nj American Water - Coastal North, serving about 377,613 people from surface water.
! 2 of 6 largest systems with health-based violationsPFAS detected at 3 of 6 sampled systemsHardness 60–140 mg/L, varies by area
Public-record figures, not a test of your tap. Not 100% accurate or guaranteed. Confirm with a water test, your utility or a qualified pro before you buy or act.
How hard is Ocean County water?
Nj American Water - Coastal NorthMeasured (utility report, 2025) · High confidence
60–140 mg/L(varies by area; no single average published)
Coastal North treatment plants: 72–140 mg/L
Former Shorelands system treatment plants (2023): 60 mg/L (3.5 gpg)
Public-record figures, not a test of your tap. Not 100% accurate or guaranteed. Confirm with a water test, your utility or a qualified pro before you buy or act.
Softener size at 8.2 gpg
For a 3-person home using 57 gallons per person per day and regenerating weekly, you'd remove about 9,815 grains between regenerations. Suggested size: 24,000 grain. Hardness varies by area here, so this uses the harder plant's figure (8.2 gpg). If your address gets softer water, a smaller unit may do; check your area in the utility report or test your tap.
Estimate only. Not 100% accurate or guaranteed. Confirm with a water test, your utility or a qualified pro before you buy or act.
The 6 biggest of 57 community water systems on EPA records for this county. Service areas don't follow county lines; your water bill names your provider.
Nj American Water - Coastal North
NJ1345001 · serves about 377,613 people · Surface water
✓ No health-based violations✓ Lead below action levelPFAS detected (5 types)
Lead 90th percentile: 2 ppb (period starting 2026-01-01). Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).
PFBS: highest sample 9.2 ppt (2 of 38 samples); no individual limit; counted in EPA's PFAS mixture (hazard index) limit
PFOA: highest sample 7.5 ppt (18 of 38 samples); federal limit 4.0 ppt as a running annual average
6:2 FTS: highest sample 6.8 ppt (1 of 38 samples); no federal limit
PFPeA: highest sample 4.8 ppt (10 of 38 samples); no federal limit
PFHxA: highest sample 4.6 ppt (12 of 38 samples); no federal limit
NJ1511001 · serves about 37,224 people · Groundwater
! 1 health-based violation✓ Lead below detection✓ No PFAS detected
Lead 90th percentile: <DL (below the lab detection/reporting limit; reported as 0) (period starting 2025-01-01). Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).
NJ1530004 · serves about 30,608 people · Groundwater
✓ No health-based violations✓ Lead below detection✓ No PFAS detected
Lead 90th percentile: <DL (below the lab detection/reporting limit; reported as 0) (period starting 2024-01-01). Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).
NJ1512001 · serves about 29,000 people · Groundwater
! 1 health-based violation✓ Lead below detection✓ No PFAS detected
Lead 90th percentile: <DL (below the lab detection/reporting limit; reported as 0) (period starting 2026-01-01). Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).
Public-record figures, not a test of your tap. Not 100% accurate or guaranteed. Confirm with a water test, your utility or a qualified pro before you buy or act.
A PFAS detection is not a violation. Federal limits (4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS) apply to running annual averages, with compliance required by 2029. In May 2026 EPA proposed extending the PFOA/PFOS deadline to 2031 and removing other PFAS limits; not final as of 2026-10-21.
Test your own tap
These are public records for whole systems. Your home's pipes, fixtures and any private well can change what you drink. A certified lab test or a hardness test strip gives you your own numbers. Then use our PFAS and lead filter selector to see which certifications to look for.
Common questions about Ocean County water
Is tap water in Ocean County safe to drink?
2 of the 6 largest systems here have at least one health-based violation in EPA records since October 2021 (see each system below for status). Nj American Water - Coastal North's most recent lead 90th percentile was 2 ppb (2026), below the 15 ppb action level. Public records can't guarantee what comes out of your tap, especially with older plumbing, so a home test is the surest check.
How hard is the water in Ocean County?
Nj American Water - Coastal North reports hardness from 60 to 140 mg/L depending on where you live, with no single system-wide average, so check your area in its report or test your water. For a 3-person home at 8.2 gpg (the harder plant's figure, since your address may get either), our softener calculator suggests a 24,000 grain unit as a starting point.
Is there PFAS in Ocean County water?
3 of the 6 sampled systems listed here detected at least one PFAS in EPA's UCMR 5 testing, and 4 results were above the level of a federal limit in at least one sample. A detection isn't a violation: federal PFAS limits apply to running annual averages starting in 2029.
Which water system serves my address in Ocean County?
Most homes are served by Nj American Water - Coastal North or one of the other systems listed on this page, but service areas don't follow county lines. Your water bill names your provider, and its annual Consumer Confidence Report has the full test results.
Data as of October 21, 2026. Figures are copied from public records and combined with our own calculations; they can be out of date or wrong. Tapped Out isn't affiliated with any utility or the EPA. Written and reviewed by the Tapped Out team. How we calculate · All sources.