Is tap water safe in East Orange?

EPA SDWIS shows no active health-based violation in this profile's reporting window. That is not the same as proving every contaminant is absent, and federal data can lag state and utility records.

How hard is the water in East Orange, NJ?

Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 92.4 ppm (5.4 grains per gallon), classified as moderately hard. This is not a tap measurement.

Do I need a water softener in ZIP code 07017?

There is no high-hardness trigger in this profile. Confirm conditions with an at-home hardness test before purchasing equipment.

City water profile

East Orange water quality

Compare local ZIP estimates, evidence quality, associated public systems, and compliance history for East Orange, New Jersey.

Median indexed hardness

91PPM

2 indexed ZIPs

Range 89.5–92.4 PPM

State comparison: 10 PPM above
State hardness rank: #10 of 60
Matched utilities: 1
Active health records: 0

City summary

What the indexed records say

East Orange has 2 published ZIP profiles across Essex County. The indexed median is 91 PPM, compared with 81 PPM across New Jersey.

Among the 60 New Jerseycities with an indexed median, East Orange ranks #10from highest to lowest. Across all 84 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 47to 121.5 PPM.

The 89.5–92.4 PPM range shows how much the available ZIP estimates vary within the city label.

Hardness distribution

How local ZIP estimates compare

Soft0 ZIPs

Moderately hard2 ZIPs

Hard0 ZIPs

Very hard0 ZIPs

2 of 2 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance: 3.5 miles
Profiles with evidence: 2/2

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 2Low: 0

Observation window: Mar 30, 2016 to Jun 10, 2026.

ZIP directory

Water reports in East Orange

Open a ZIP for site-level provenance and measurements.

ZIP code

07017

Moderately Hard

92.4 PPM

Nearest site: 3.5 mi
Confidence: Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

07018

Moderately Hard

89.5 PPM

Nearest site: 2.9 mi
Confidence: Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

Public water systems

Utilities associated with this city

East Orange Water Commission

PWSID NJ0705001

Groundwater

System population served: 75,000
Last reported: Jun 30, 2026

A municipal system, in-state city, and served county all agree with this Census ZCTA.

Compliance history

What EPA records show

No active health-based violation appears among the associated systems in the represented EPA reporting quarter. This does not mean every contaminant was tested at every tap.

Record	System	Period	Status
Lead and Copper Rule	NJ0705001	Jul 1, 2025	Archived
E. COLI	NJ0705001	Jun 18, 2025	Unaddressed
Lead and Copper Rule	NJ0705001	Jan 1, 2025	Archived
Lead and Copper Rule	NJ0705001	Dec 30, 2024	Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule	NJ0705001	Dec 11, 2024	Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule	NJ0705001	Nov 1, 2024	Resolved
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene	NJ0705001	Nov 1, 2024	Resolved
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene	NJ0705001	Nov 1, 2024	Resolved
DICHLOROMETHANE	NJ0705001	Nov 1, 2024	Resolved
1,1,1-Trichloroethane	NJ0705001	Nov 1, 2024	Resolved

Practical next steps

Move from index to evidence

1. Open your ZIP. Check distance, dates, confidence, and the associated utility.
2. Read the current CCR. Confirm source water, detections, limits, ranges, and notices.
3. Test the tap when needed. Confirm health concerns or treatment sizing with the right method.

Continue comparing

Other New Jersey communities

Newark

Essex County

81 PPM median

North Caldwell

Essex County

83 PPM median

Roseland

Essex County

82 PPM median

Newton

Sussex County

90 PPM median

Madison

Morris County

93 PPM median

Burlington

Burlington County

86 PPM median

Search all 60 New Jersey cities →

Questions people ask

About water in East Orange

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 91 PPM. Open the ZIP report to verify the distance and confidence behind that estimate.

Is the tap water safe?

Compliance history is utility-wide and cannot guarantee conditions at every tap. Check current notices and test when address-specific evidence is needed.

Do I need treatment?

Choose treatment only after confirming the problem at the property. A softener targets hardness; contaminant treatment requires a matching, verified performance claim.