Lead Service Lines in Haworth, NJ
What you need to know
Haworth is served by 36 water systems. Across all of them, 20,801 lead service lines have been identified — these are the pipes that connect the water main in the street to homes and buildings.
Lead service lines can leach lead into drinking water, especially in older homes and when water sits in pipes overnight. The good news: lead can be removed through filtration or by replacing the line entirely. But first, you need to know if your home has one.
Lead service lines in your area
The vast majority of Haworth residents—792,713 people—are served by Veolia Water New Jersey Hackensack, which has identified 20,736 lead service lines in its service territory. Three other Veolia systems serve smaller populations in the area, with 32, 2, and 0 known lead lines respectively. One system has no lead service lines on record.
These counts represent pipes that utilities have confirmed or documented as lead. Your home may have a lead service line even if it's not in these totals—records are sometimes incomplete, especially for older properties.
How to find out if your home is affected
Step 1: Identify your water utility
Contact Haworth's municipal offices or check your water bill—it will show your water provider's name.
Step 2: Ask your utility directly
Call or visit your water system's website and ask:
- "Does my address have a lead service line?"
- "What records do you have for my property?"
- "Can you send me a map of my service line?"
Most utilities in New Jersey are required to maintain and share this information under state and federal Safe Drinking Water Act rules.
Step 3: Get your water tested
If you can't confirm your line status, or if you have lead lines, test your tap water. A simple lab test costs $20–50 and tells you if lead is actually present in your drinking water right now.
What to do if you have a lead service line
A lead service line doesn't automatically mean you have lead in your water—but it's a real risk. The CDC recommends:
- Using a water filter certified for lead removal (NSF/ANSI Standard 53)
- Flushing your cold-water tap for 30 seconds before drinking or cooking
- Using cold water for drinking and cooking (hot water leaches lead faster)
- Having your water tested by a certified lab
Full replacement of a lead service line is permanent but expensive; many utilities offer partial cost-sharing programs. Ask your water provider about your options.
Next steps for residents
- Contact your water utility (check your bill for the name) and ask if your address has a lead service line.
- Request a water test if you're unsure or want confirmation of current water quality.
- Install a point-of-use filter certified for lead if you have a lead line (while you consider replacement options).
- Talk to your pediatrician if anyone in your home is pregnant or under 6 years old and you suspect lead exposure—they can advise on next steps.
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