'Forever Chemicals' Found In Nearly All Of Tested NJ Water, New Survey Says

A new analysis of water testing data found PFAS, the so-called “forever chemicals” linked to cancer and other health problems, in 91 percent of 86 tested sites along New Jersey’s Raritan River watershed. The chemicals, which can persist for over 1,000 years, were detected at every monitoring location upstream of Bridgewater’s drinking water intake, and a separate study ranked New Jersey second-worst in the nation for drinking water quality. New Jersey has taken some steps to address the problem, including passing the Protecting Against Forever Chemicals Act in 2025, but advocates are pushing for stronger measures like banning industrial facilities from dumping PFAS into waterways.