Here is what the EPA's own data shows about tap water in Clifton. According to EPA SDWIS data retrieved October 2026, Clifton is served by 4 active community water systems, together reported to serve about 327,465 people.
As of October 2026, EPA records show 17 violations across the community water system(s) serving Clifton, going back to the earliest EPA record. 5 of these are classified by the EPA as health-based (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks); the rest are monitoring or reporting violations. Each is listed by system below, with its status.
Health-based Lead and Copper Rule: a health-based violation (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks), recorded once in July 2021. The EPA record for these does not include a measured level. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Health-based Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule: a health-based violation (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks), recorded once in July 2014. The EPA record for these does not include a measured level. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Lead and Copper Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in July 2025. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Monitoring Consumer Confidence Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in July 2023. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring 2,4-D: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in July 2023. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Pvwc-North Arlington
15,392 served · surface water · PWSID NJ0239001
Monitoring Consumer Confidence Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in July 2023. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Surface Water Treatment Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in May 2020. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Chlorine: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in July 2017. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Lead and Copper Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in October 2005. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Passaic Valley W C High Crest
1,132 served · surface water · PWSID NJ1615003
Health-based TTHM: a health-based violation (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks), recorded 3 times between October 2018 and April 2019. The EPA record lists a level of 0.082 MG/L; the limit (MCL) is 0.08 MG/L. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Consumer Confidence Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in July 2023. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Chlorine: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in July 2017. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Pvwc-Postbrook
458 served · groundwater · PWSID NJ1615008
Monitoring Public Notice: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in January 2024. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Consumer Confidence Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in July 2023. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Chlorine: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in July 2017. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
What this means
A health-based violation means a contaminant was recorded above the limit the EPA tracks for it. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was late or missed — not that a contaminant was measured above a limit. “Returned to compliance” means the EPA recorded the issue as resolved.
This page summarizes the EPA's own records and does not assess whether your water is safe to drink. For the most current details, you can verify every record directly with the EPA, and contact your water system with questions.
Source: U.S. EPA Envirofacts SDWIS, retrieved October 2026. Records cover the EPA's full reporting history for these systems. Verify at EPA ECHO.