Home hazard report for 08862 — Perth Amboy, NJ
ZIP 08862 is served by Perth Amboy Water Department (as listed by the state): 7 violations since 2016, latest lead result 0 ppb, PFAS 19 ppt. Middlesex is in EPA radon zone 2.
Health-based violations since 2016: Tthm, Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U, Lead and Copper Rule. All are listed as resolved.
90th-percentile lead in the latest round (Jan 2026). Lead comes mostly from household plumbing and service lines, so individual homes can be higher.
Highest PFOA or PFOS result in EPA’s 2023–2025 testing was at or above 4.0 ppt, EPA’s 2024 maximum contaminant level for each. 7 PFAS compounds detected.
Predicted average indoor radon between 2 and 4 pCi/L. Test your home; many homes here exceed 4 pCi/L.
Active or proposed Superfund (National Priorities List) sites near the center of this ZIP code.
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Where ZIP 08862 is
blue: utility service area · scroll or pinch to zoomDrinking water: Perth Amboy Water Department
Health-based violations
| Contaminant or rule | Health-based violations since 2016 |
|---|---|
| Tthm | 3 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U | 3 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | 1 |
A health-based violation means a contaminant exceeded its legal limit (MCL) or a required treatment technique was not met, as reported by the state to EPA’s SDWIS. All are listed as resolved or archived; the latest began Jan 2026.
Lead
90th-percentile lead per sampling round (90% of the homes sampled were at or below this level). Black line: EPA’s 15 ppb action level; under the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements the action level becomes 10 ppb from 2027.
PFAS (“forever chemicals”)
| Compound | Highest result | Samples with detection | EPA limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA | 19 ppt | 4 of 4 | 4 ppt MCL |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) | 14 ppt | 4 of 4 | — |
| PFPeA | 5.3 ppt | 4 of 4 | — |
| PFBA | 5.1 ppt | 2 of 4 | — |
| PFOS | 4.9 ppt | 3 of 4 | 4 ppt MCL |
| PFHxA | 4.4 ppt | 4 of 4 | — |
| PFHpA | 3.4 ppt | 2 of 4 | — |
| PFBS | not detected | 0 of 4 | — |
| PFDA | not detected | 0 of 4 | — |
| PFNA | not detected | 0 of 4 | — |
| PFHxS | not detected | 0 of 4 | — |
EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5), samples 2023–2025; ppt = parts per trillion (ng/L). The 4.0 ppt maximum contaminant levels for PFOA and PFOS were set by EPA in 2024; water systems have until the end of the decade to comply.
Radon in Middlesex
EPA radon zone 2 — moderate potential. Predicted average indoor radon between 2 and 4 pCi/L. Test your home; many homes here exceed 4 pCi/L.
Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas from soil and rock, and the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above and considering it from 2 pCi/L. A short-term test kit costs about $15–30. How radon zones work →
Superfund sites nearby
| Site | Status | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Fried Industries East Brunswick Township, New Jersey · EPA ID NJD041828906 | Active (final NPL) | 1.5 mi |
| Sayreville Landfill Sayreville, New Jersey · EPA ID NJD980505754 | Cleaned up & deleted | 3.3 mi |
| Kin-Buc Landfill Edison Township, New Jersey · EPA ID NJD049860836 | Active (final NPL) | 4.6 mi |
| CPS/Madison Industries Old Bridge Township, New Jersey · EPA ID NJD002141190 | Active (final NPL) | 4.7 mi |
| Monroe Township Landfill Monroe Township, New Jersey · EPA ID NJD980505671 | Cleaned up & deleted | 4.8 mi |
| Evor Phillips Leasing Old Bridge Township, New Jersey · EPA ID NJD980654222 | Active (final NPL) | 4.9 mi |
| JIS Landfill Jamesburg, South Brunswick Township, New Jersey · EPA ID NJD097400998 | Active (final NPL) | 5.1 mi |
| Horseshoe Road Sayreville, New Jersey · EPA ID NJD980663678 | Active (final NPL) | 6.4 mi |
| Atlantic Resources Corporation Sayreville, New Jersey · EPA ID NJD981558430 | Active (final NPL) | 6.4 mi |
| Renora, Inc. Edison Township, New Jersey · EPA ID NJD070415005 | Cleaned up & deleted | 6.9 mi |
EPA Superfund National Priorities List (NPL): the country’s most serious known hazardous-waste sites, each with an EPA cleanup record (linked). Distance is measured from the ZIP center to the site’s reference point; being near a site does not by itself mean exposure — EPA site pages describe what was found and how it is being cleaned up.
What this is — and isn’t. These are records your water utility and state reported to the EPA, and the EPA’s radon map for your county. They describe the system and the area, not the water from your own tap or the air in your home. For that, read your utility’s annual Consumer Confidence Report and test: lead and radon tests are inexpensive.
Questions about 08862
Who supplies drinking water to ZIP 08862?
Perth Amboy Water Department (EPA ID NJ1216001), a surface water (rivers, lakes) system serving about 52,328 people, listed by the state as serving this ZIP code.
Is there lead in Perth Amboy, NJ tap water?
The utility’s latest 90th-percentile lead result (Jan 2026) was 0 ppb; EPA’s action level is 15 ppb, falling to 10 ppb from 2027. Lead mostly comes from service lines and home plumbing, so the only way to know your tap is to test it.
Does Perth Amboy, NJ water have PFAS?
Highest PFOA or PFOS result in EPA’s 2023–2025 testing was at or above 4.0 ppt, EPA’s 2024 maximum contaminant level for each. 7 PFAS compounds detected.
Has the water system in 08862 had violations?
Health-based violations since 2016: Tthm, Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U, Lead and Copper Rule. All are listed as resolved.
Are there Superfund sites near 08862?
Active or proposed Superfund (National Priorities List) sites near the center of this ZIP code. Sites within 10 miles: Fried Industries (1.5 mi, Active (final NPL)); Sayreville Landfill (3.3 mi, Cleaned up & deleted); Kin-Buc Landfill (4.6 mi, Active (final NPL)).
Is radon a problem in Middlesex?
Middlesex is in EPA radon zone 2 (moderate potential). Predicted average indoor radon between 2 and 4 pCi/L. Test your home; many homes here exceed 4 pCi/L.