Union County, New Jersey
Water softeners and filtration in Union County
Union County runs on public water, but not on one system. Elizabeth buys its water through Liberty Water Company, while most of the other towns we serve are on one of two New Jersey American Water systems: Raritan, fed by Central Jersey rivers, and Short Hills, which blends wells with water bought from five other utilities.
- Free installation
Where we install
Where we install in Union County
Your water depends on where it comes from, so here's who supplies each town. On a private well, your well is the supplier.
Elizabeth, NJ
Water: Liberty Water Company (operated by NJ American Water)
Water in ElizabethWestfield, NJ
Water: NJ American Water (Raritan system)
Water in WestfieldCranford, NJ
Water: NJ American Water (Raritan system)
Water in CranfordSummit, NJ
Water: NJ American Water (Short Hills system)
Water in SummitUnion, NJ
Water: NJ American Water (Raritan and Short Hills systems)
Water in UnionLinden, NJ
Water: NJ American Water (Raritan system)
Water in Linden
Don't see your town? We cover all of Union County. Take the quiz or call (856) 276-5310.
Water quality
Water quality in Union County
What state and federal testing shows about water here. Your own test shows what's in your home.
Private wells in Union County
Only 60 private wells were tested here from 2002 to 2014; almost every home is on public water.
Local findings
Elizabeth's water is bought in
Liberty Water Company, which serves Elizabeth, purchases its treated water from New Jersey American Water's Raritan system and from Newark rather than pumping its own.
A solvent near New Jersey's limit
1,2,3-trichloropropane, an industrial solvent, measured up to 0.02 ppb in both the Raritan and Liberty systems in 2025. The state limit is 0.03 ppb.
Heavy manganese in the Short Hills system
The Short Hills system reported manganese as high as 2,464 ppb in 2025, nearly 50 times the 50 ppb guideline, which is set to prevent staining.
A disinfection lapse in 2025
In May 2025, chlorine leaving the Short Hills Well Station fell below the required minimum. The station was taken out of service and affected customers were notified.
Public water reports
Liberty Water Company
2025 test results · public water system NJ2004001
- Where it comes from
- All of it is bought: treated river water from New Jersey American Water's Raritan system, and reservoir water from Newark's Pequannock and Wanaque watersheds. New Jersey American Water operates the system under contract.
- Disinfectant
- Chloramines (chlorine bound with ammonia), from 0.04 to 3.7 ppm in the pipes, with a highest running average of 1.1 ppm. The limit is 4.
- Hardness
- 53 to 143 mg/L, about 3.1 to 8.4 grains per gallon.
- PFAS
- PFOA up to 7 ppt and PFOS up to 5 ppt: within New Jersey's limits of 14 and 13, but above the federal 4.0 ppt limits that apply from April 2029.
- Lead
- 2 ppb at the 90th percentile across 54 homes, none over the action level.
New Jersey American Water, Raritan system
2025 test results · public water system NJ2004002
- Where it comes from
- 98 wells and 7 surface intakes on the Millstone and Raritan rivers and the Delaware & Raritan Canal, plus the Brunswick, Stockton, Passaic and other aquifers.
- Disinfectant
- Chloramines for river water and chlorine for well water. Residuals in the pipes ranged from 0.02 to 4 ppm, with a highest running average of 1.2 ppm.
- Hardness
- Not listed in the report. We measure it at your tap during the water test.
- PFAS
- PFOA up to 7 ppt and PFOS up to 6 ppt, within New Jersey's limits (14 and 13). Federal limits of 4.0 ppt each take effect in April 2029.
- Lead
- 2 ppb at the 90th percentile; none of the 54 homes tested was over the action level.
New Jersey American Water, Short Hills system
2025 test results · public water system NJ0712001
- Where it comes from
- 25 wells and 4 intakes on the Passaic River and Canoe Brook, plus water bought from Newark, Montclair, the Passaic Valley Water Commission, the Southeast Morris County MUA, and NJ American Water's Raritan system.
- Disinfectant
- Chlorine for well water, and chlorine or chloramines for surface water. Chlorine in the pipes measured 0.7 to 1.0 ppm.
- Hardness
- 52 to 342 mg/L in 2024 testing, about 3 to 20 grains per gallon.
- PFAS
- PFOA's highest running average was 9 ppt (single results up to 11) and PFOS 5 ppt: within New Jersey's limits, above the federal 4.0 ppt limits that apply from April 2029.
- Lead
- 3 ppb at the 90th percentile, but 2 of the 56 homes tested were over the 15 ppb action level.
Across the region
Arsenic in private wells
New Jersey's Piedmont region has the state's highest rate of arsenic in private wells: about 17% exceed the state standard. It comes naturally from minerals in the bedrock, and you can't see, taste, or smell it.
PFAS limits
New Jersey was the first state to set limits for PFAS "forever chemicals": 14 parts per trillion for PFOA and 13 for PFOS and PFNA. Public utilities must meet them. Private wells are only tested when a home is sold or leased.
Hardness varies by town
New Jersey's median tap water is moderately hard, about 5 grains per gallon, and it changes a lot from one supplier to the next. Your water test tells you exactly where you stand.
Our systems
The systems Union County homes usually need
Complete Home System
City-water homes that want every tap and appliance protected at once
Details about the Complete Home System
Whole-Home Water Softener
Homes with hard water and limited space
Details about the Whole-Home Water Softener
Tankless Alkaline RO
Replacing bottled water for drinking and cooking
Details about the Tankless Alkaline RO
- Free installation
FAQ
Union County FAQs
Can't find what you're looking for? Call (856) 276-5310. A real person picks up.
Who supplies drinking water in Union County?
It depends on the town: Elizabeth is served by Liberty Water Company (operated by NJ American Water); Westfield is served by NJ American Water (Raritan system); Cranford is served by NJ American Water (Raritan system); Summit is served by NJ American Water (Short Hills system). If your home has its own well pump and pressure tank, your well is your supply. We install in every town in Union County, on either kind of water.
What should I test my well for in Union County?
New Jersey's Private Well Testing Act requires a test before a home with a well is sold, and every five years for rentals; in Union County it must include uranium. The local geology also makes naturally occurring arsenic worth checking.
Water quiz
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