New Brunswick sits on the Raritan River in central New Jersey — a city of about 55,000 that’s home to Rutgers University and a hub for pharmaceutical research and manufacturing. It’s also in the heart of one of the most industrialized corridors in the northeastern United States, and the water quality reflects that history.
The Raritan River: New Jersey’s Largest Watershed
The Raritan River watershed covers about 1,100 square miles — the largest watershed entirely within New Jersey. It supplies drinking water to roughly 1.5 million people across central New Jersey. The river’s health directly affects New Brunswick and dozens of surrounding communities.
The Raritan’s water quality challenges include:
Industrial discharges — the watershed has a long history of industrial activity. Pharmaceutical plants, chemical manufacturers, and other industries have discharged waste into the river and its tributaries for over a century. While modern permits and regulations have dramatically reduced point-source pollution, legacy contamination persists in sediments and groundwater.
Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) — New Brunswick and other older cities along the Raritan have combined sewer systems that overflow during storms, discharging a mixture of raw sewage and stormwater directly into the river. New Jersey has been working to reduce CSOs, but the infrastructure investment required is enormous.
Nonpoint source pollution — suburban and agricultural runoff carries fertilizers, pesticides, road salt, and other pollutants into the watershed. Development pressure in central New Jersey continues to increase impervious surfaces and stormwater volumes.
Emerging contaminants — pharmaceutical compounds, personal care products, and microplastics are detected in the Raritan. With major pharmaceutical operations in the watershed, the presence of active pharmaceutical ingredients in source water has been a research focus at Rutgers and elsewhere.
Superfund Sites and Industrial Legacy
Middlesex County — where New Brunswick is located — has multiple EPA Superfund sites and state-listed contaminated sites:
Kin-Buc Landfill — located in Edison, just north of New Brunswick, this Superfund site accepted industrial and chemical waste for decades. The landfill contaminated groundwater with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), heavy metals, and other hazardous substances. Cleanup has been ongoing since the 1980s.
American Cyanamid — the former American Cyanamid complex in Bridgewater (now part of the Pfizer/Wyeth legacy) generated chemical waste that affected local groundwater and surface water. The site is one of the largest and most complex remediation projects in New Jersey.
Multiple smaller sites — the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) tracks hundreds of contaminated sites in Middlesex County through its Known Contaminated Sites program. Former gas stations, dry cleaners, industrial facilities, and waste disposal sites create a patchwork of localized contamination.
Lead Service Lines
New Jersey has some of the oldest water infrastructure in the nation, and New Brunswick is no exception. The state passed one of the country’s most ambitious lead service line replacement laws in 2021, requiring all water utilities to inventory and replace lead service lines within 10 years.
Key facts about lead in New Brunswick:
- Age of housing stock — much of New Brunswick’s residential construction predates 1986, when lead solder was banned in plumbing
- Lead service lines — the connections between water mains and older homes may contain lead pipe that can leach into drinking water, especially when water sits stagnant in pipes
- Corrosion control — the water utility uses corrosion control treatment to minimize lead leaching, but this is a mitigation measure, not a permanent solution
- Inventory and replacement — under New Jersey’s law, utilities must complete a full inventory of service line materials and begin systematic replacement
New Jersey’s lead service line replacement mandate is among the most aggressive in the nation, reflecting the scale of the problem. The state estimates over 350,000 lead service lines remain in use statewide.
PFAS in Central New Jersey
New Jersey was one of the first states to establish enforceable PFAS standards for drinking water. The state’s maximum contaminant levels are among the strictest in the country:
- PFOA: 14 parts per trillion
- PFOS: 13 parts per trillion
- PFNA (perfluorononanoic acid): 13 parts per trillion — New Jersey was the first state to regulate PFNA
For New Brunswick and surrounding communities, PFAS sources include:
- Industrial operations — chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing in the region used PFAS-containing materials
- Wastewater treatment — PFAS from industrial and residential sources concentrate in wastewater effluent that enters the Raritan
- Firefighting foam — AFFF use at military installations and civilian facilities has been documented in the region
New Jersey’s proactive regulatory stance means utilities are required to test for and treat PFAS to meet the state’s strict standards.
What Residents Can Do
- Request lead testing — New Brunswick water utility can provide information about your service line material and how to get your water tested for lead
- Flush your pipes — if you have lead service lines or older plumbing, run cold water for at least 30 seconds before using it for drinking or cooking
- Read the CCR — your annual water quality report details all testing results for regulated contaminants
- Filter your water — NSF 53 certified filters remove lead, and NSF P473 certification covers PFAS reduction
- Report CSO concerns — after heavy storms, be aware that river-adjacent areas may see combined sewer overflow events
If you’re concerned about your water quality, a certified water treatment professional can test your water and advise on solutions tailored to central New Jersey’s specific contamination profile.