Clifton
Clifton, NJ water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
passaic valley water commission
surface water (rivers/reservoirs) · local government · PWSID NJ1605002
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
With about 86,334 residents, Clifton ranks as the 7th-largest city in New Jersey and a small but growing city. Water in Clifton is sourced chiefly from Delaware River, reservoirs, and coastal aquifers, the backbone of New Jersey's supply.
The defining water pressure here mirrors the state's: pfas contamination. Among the first states to set strict PFAS limits; dense development strains aging systems.
Statewide, New Jersey recycles about 6% of its wastewater with developing reuse programs. Locally, Clifton faces severe to extreme drought conditions.
The New Jersey state profile covers the regional supply outlook; the issues below detail what's driving Clifton's water future.
Passaic County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~86,334 (7th-largest in New Jersey)
- Primary sources: Delaware River, reservoirs, and coastal aquifers
- Drought: severe to extreme conditions
- State reuse rate: ~6% of wastewater
Statewide drought history
% of New Jersey in severe+ drought (Extreme (D3) now).
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Clifton?
Clifton's largest water system, PASSAIC VALLEY WATER COMMISSION, serves about 310,483 people. EPA records show 1 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 3.7 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Clifton get its water?
PASSAIC VALLEY WATER COMMISSION draws primarily from surface water (rivers/reservoirs), part of New Jersey's supply from Delaware River, reservoirs, coastal aquifers.
Related water issues
PFAS Contamination
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances persist in water supplies for decades. New federal limits are forcing utilities nationwide to invest in advanced treatment.
ExploreAging Infrastructure
Much of America's water infrastructure is decades past its design life, leaking trillions of gallons a year and demanding hundreds of billions in reinvestment.
ExploreSaltwater Intrusion
As coastal aquifers are over-pumped and seas rise, saltwater pushes inland and contaminates freshwater supplies for cities from Florida to California.
Explore