Hudson County · New York–Newark–Jersey City metro
Plumbing help in Jersey City, NJ
Lead LinesOlder Pipes
Jersey City is dense and mostly rented, from old brick rowhouses to new towers. Its water comes from reservoirs in Morris County, and a citywide lead service line replacement program is under way.
- Median home built
- 1977
- Built before 1980
- 51%
- Owner-occupied
- 27%
- Water hardness
- See below
- Winter
- Regular hard freezes
- Plumbing code
- Local
The plumbing calls that come up most in Jersey City
- Water Line Repair
Older buildings may have lead service lines being replaced under the city program.
- Drain Cleaning
Shared drain stacks in older multi-family buildings clog.
- Frozen Pipe Repair
Pipes in exterior walls of older buildings freeze in cold snaps.
Emergency plumbing in Jersey City
Call (833) 878-1592Shut off your main water supply if it's safe to do so. The emergencies below are listed most likely first for Jersey City homes, based on local conditions.
Jersey City's 1970s housing and its pipes
The median home in Jersey City was built in 1977, and 51% of homes predate 1980. Homes from that era were typically built with copper supply, early plastic (ABS or PVC) drains, some cast iron.
- Galvanized steel supply (1900–1960)
- Copper supply (1950–2000)
- Polybutylene (some homes) (1978–1996)
- PEX / CPVC (1995–today)
Frozen pipe risk in Jersey City
Regular hard freezes · 51% of Jersey City homes were built before 1980
Where Jersey City's water comes from
Jersey City's water comes from the Rockaway River, impounded at the Boonton (Jersey City) Reservoir, and the Split Rock Reservoir. [1]
The Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority is running a citywide lead service line replacement program and offers a map to look up an address's service line, under New Jersey's lead service line replacement law. [2]
Heavy rain and storms
Plumbing services for Jersey City homes
Jersey City plumbing questions
Does my Jersey City building have a lead service line?
Check JCMUA's service line lookup map for your address; the utility is replacing lead lines citywide.
Where does Jersey City's water come from?
Reservoirs in Morris County: the Boonton (Jersey City) Reservoir on the Rockaway River and the Split Rock Reservoir.
Which plumbing code applies in Jersey City?
New Jersey's Uniform Construction Code, whose plumbing subcode is the National Standard Plumbing Code.
How do I check a Jersey City plumber?
Verify the master plumber license with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.
Who handles plumbing in a Jersey City rental?
Landlords are generally responsible for plumbing repairs in rental units. Report problems in writing.
Sources (3)
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year (B25035) · checked 2026-10-01
- City of Jersey City, Where Does Our Water Come From · checked 2026-10-01
- JCMUA, Lead Service Line Replacements · checked 2026-10-01