Is tap water safe in Trenton?

EPA SDWIS reports 1 active health-based violation record(s) among systems associated with this ZIP. Review your utility's current notice and Consumer Confidence Report.

How hard is the water in Trenton, NJ?

Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 86 ppm (5 grains per gallon), classified as moderately hard. This is not a tap measurement.

Do I need a water softener in ZIP code 08611?

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

City water profile

Trenton water quality

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

Median indexed hardness

86PPM

7 indexed ZIPs

Range 85.9–86 PPM

State comparison: 5 PPM above
State hardness rank: #13 of 60
Matched utilities: 1
Active health records: 0

City summary

What the indexed records say

Trenton has 7 published ZIP profiles across Mercer County. The indexed median is 86 PPM, compared with 81 PPM across New Jersey.

Among the 60 New Jerseycities with an indexed median, Trenton ranks #13from highest to lowest. Across all 84 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 47to 121.5 PPM.

The 85.9–86 PPM range shows how much the available ZIP estimates vary within the city label.

Hardness distribution

How local ZIP estimates compare

Soft0 ZIPs

Moderately hard7 ZIPs

Hard0 ZIPs

Very hard0 ZIPs

7 of 7 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance: 2 miles
Profiles with evidence: 7/7

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 7Low: 0

Trenton Water Works

PWSID NJ1111001

Surface water

System population served: 217,000
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
TTHM	NJ1111001	Oct 1, 2024	Archived · health-based
Lead and Copper Rule	NJ1111001	Jul 1, 2024	Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)	NJ1111001	Dec 28, 2023	Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule	NJ1111001	Nov 1, 2023	Resolved
Surface Water Treatment Rule	NJ1111001	Nov 1, 2023	Resolved
TTHM	NJ1111001	Oct 1, 2023	Archived
Revised Total Coliform Rule	NJ1111001	Oct 1, 2023	Resolved
Surface Water Treatment Rule	NJ1111001	Oct 1, 2023	Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)	NJ1111001	Oct 1, 2023	Archived
Chlorine	NJ1111001	Oct 1, 2023	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

Burlington

Burlington County

86 PPM median

Wallington

Bergen County

84 PPM median

Kinnelon

Morris County

84 PPM median

North Caldwell

Essex County

83 PPM median

Garfield

Bergen County

83 PPM median

Hoboken

Hudson County

82 PPM median

Search all 60 New Jersey cities →

Questions people ask

About water in Trenton

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 86 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.