Trenton
Trenton, NJ water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
trenton water works
surface water (rivers/reservoirs) · local government · PWSID NJ1111001
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
Trenton, NJ is a small but growing city, with a population near 84,225 and the 8th-largest community in New Jersey. Like much of New Jersey, Trenton draws its water primarily from Delaware River, reservoirs, and coastal aquifers.
Trenton's water outlook is shaped most by pfas contamination — the issue that dominates planning across New Jersey. Among the first states to set strict PFAS limits; dense development strains aging systems.
Trenton sits in a state that reuses roughly 6% of treated wastewater (developing programs) and currently experiences severe to extreme drought.
For the bigger picture, see the New Jersey state water profile and the related issues below.
Mercer County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~84,225 (8th-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 Trenton?
Trenton's largest water system, TRENTON WATER WORKS, serves about 217,000 people. EPA records show 20 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 4.4 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Trenton get its water?
TRENTON WATER WORKS 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