Fairfield, New Jersey

Heavy metals, such as lead, arsenic, chromium, mercury, and cadmium, are toxic elements that can contaminate drinking water through natural deposits, industrial discharge, or aging infrastructure. Even at low levels, prolonged exposure to these metals can lead to serious health issues, including neurological damage, kidney problems, and increased cancer risk.

According to the most recent Consumer Confidence Report, Fairfield tap water shows very low levels of heavy metals. Lead, Mercury, and Cadmium were not detected at all. Arsenic was measured at just 5.7% of the EPA limit, and Chromium at 1.0% of the permissible level. All detected heavy metals in Fairfield are well within EPA permissible amounts, indicating that the water supply is being effectively managed for these particular contaminants.

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of man-made chemicals referred to as "forever chemicals" because they do not break down easily in the environment or in the human body. Created in the 1930s by bonding Carbon and Fluorine atoms, PFAS have been widely used in products like non-stick cookware, water-resistant clothing, and firefighting foam. Exposure to PFAS can compromise the immune system, increase cholesterol levels, cause developmental issues in children, and heighten the risk of certain cancers.

Fairfield's tap water exceeds the future EPA limits for PFAS contaminants—specifically PFOA at 288% of the proposed limit and PFOS at 178% of the proposed limit. These elevated levels were a key factor in the township's D rating. It is important to note that these new EPA limits are still being debated and are not currently legally enforceable. Nevertheless, ongoing research suggests that even low-level exposure to PFAS may carry long-term health risks, making it prudent for residents to stay informed and consider filtration options if they are concerned.

Apart from heavy metals and PFAS, Fairfield's water quality testing found no other significant issues in the tap water. Various disinfection byproducts, such as total trihalomethanes (TTHM) and haloacetic acids (HAA5), were detected at levels within EPA guidelines. Other monitored substances—including manganese, zinc, chlorine, radium, nitrate, aluminum, copper, and nickel—also remained below regulatory limits. Overall, these results suggest that Fairfield's water treatment processes are effectively managing a broad range of potential contaminants.

Think of your water as nature's masterpiece: ideally, it should be as pure and timeless as the Mona Lisa. Unfortunately, modern contaminants can transform that pristine canvas into something far less appealing. We evaluate water quality by considering both the toxicity of each contaminant and the degree to which it exceeds safe limits. The more contaminants present—and the higher their levels—the lower the grade.

Fluoride is an exception: even though it's added to many water supplies for dental health, we ignore it in our grading because its presence is intentional and regulated. For every other substance, we measure how close the water comes to nature's original masterpiece—or how far it strays into a paint-by-numbers imitation.