Ridgewood Township's drinking water is supplied by the Ridgewood Water system, serving over 61,700 residents in Bergen County using surface water sources treated and distributed through more than 20,000 connections. This system is subject to federal monitoring under the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR3), which tracks the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other substances that may occur in water. These measurements are from the system-wide level, reflecting overall water quality as it leaves treatment facilities before reaching individual homes.
Belief: Any detection of VOCs means my household water is unsafe or exceeds limits
The EPA records for Ridgewood Water show low-level detections of some VOCs such as 1,1-dichloroethane and HCFC-22, but no compound was measured above federal maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) because several of these VOCs do not have established MCLs. Detection simply means these substances were measurable in the system during monitoring; it is not a health violation or an indication that the water is unsafe. No VOC measurement recorded exceeds any legal health-based limit.
Belief: Testing just for VOC presence is enough to understand my water quality
Before concluding whether VOCs affect your household water, it is important to differentiate between system-wide monitoring and your individual home's water test results. The simplest step is to have your water sampled by a certified laboratory focusing on VOCs. This test will reveal if these substances appear at your tap and at what levels, considering your plumbing and point-of-entry conditions. Ruling out issues such as stale water in pipes or localized contamination can guide your next steps.
Belief: VOCs are unlikely to enter water in Ridgewood, so treatment isn’t needed
In this region, VOCs can enter surface water supplies used by Ridgewood's system through industrial byproducts, volatilization of chemicals, or legacy pollution. These compounds are monitored because they can be volatile and persistent in water sources. Though not detected at high concentrations during monitoring, their presence demonstrates potential contamination routes that may vary locally within the system or in private wells.
Belief: I don’t need detailed data before seeking VOC treatment options
When considering treatment, record key water parameters and system data: your home's water source, recent lab results for VOCs, history of equipment failure, and any notice or data from local water authorities. This information helps determine the scope of a treatment solution suited for your household conditions and potential contaminant levels.
Belief: Aesthetic secondary standards are the same as health limits and justify immediate treatment
Secondary standards relate to taste, odor, and appearance, not health risks. For VOCs like 1,1-dichloroethane or HCFC-22, these standards do not apply as they are unregulated contaminants without secondary or primary maximum limits. Treatment is based on targeted removal of detected compounds at levels relevant to your household, not on aesthetic measures.
To conclusively address VOC concerns in your home, the key step is to obtain a specific VOC test of your water from a qualified lab. This result will indicate which VOCs, if any, are present and at what levels, helping you decide if treatment is necessary. When treatment is appropriate, the C-Series VOCs & Industrial Chemicals Filter offers a documented option designed to reduce such compounds effectively in residential water systems. It ships ready to configure for household use, offering a practical path forward after assessing your own water's VOC status.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2015-09-23. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA UCMR3 monitoring (2013-2015) for Ridgewood Water (NJ0251001), NJ: 334 results across 7 listed contaminants, 5 detections above the reporting level; no federal MCL for these UCMR-listed VOCs