Summit, Union County
Water treatment in Summit, NJ
Summit is on New Jersey American Water's Short Hills system, which mixes its own wells with Passaic River and Canoe Brook water and supply bought from five other systems. That mix shows up in the numbers: hardness in 2024 testing ran from 52 to 342 mg/L.
- Free installation
Water quality
What's in Summit's water
From New Jersey American Water, Short Hills system's latest annual water quality report. Your own test shows what reaches your tap.
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.
What it means in Summit
Up to 20 grains of hardness
At 342 mg/L, the hardest Short Hills water works out to about 20 grains per gallon, which is very hard water. The softest, at 52 mg/L, is about 3.
Manganese far over the guideline
Manganese reached 2,464 ppb against a recommended upper limit of 50 ppb. The report explains that limit is about staining laundry, not health.
One high PFOA reading in 2023
In federal monitoring in 2023, PFOA averaged 2 ppt across the system, but results ranged as high as 88 ppt. Under state compliance testing in 2025, the highest running average was 9 ppt.
Our systems
The systems Summit 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
Summit water questions
Can't find what you're looking for? Call (856) 276-5310. A real person picks up.
Who supplies water in Summit?
New Jersey American Water, through its Short Hills system, public water system NJ0712001.
Why are there brown stains in my Summit sink or laundry?
Manganese is a likely cause: the Short Hills system measured up to 2,464 ppb in 2025, far over the 50 ppb guideline meant to prevent staining. Iron can stain too, so our water test checks for both.
Is Summit water hard?
It can be very hard. The system ranged from about 3 to 20 grains per gallon, so the number at your tap matters. We measure it during the free in-home test.
Water quiz
Find the right system for your home
Answer five quick questions and we'll recommend a water treatment solution for your home. Then book your free water test and quote.
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