Test results: Traces of toxic chemical found in water

Test results show that a hazardous chemical found near a northern New Jersey reservoir has been detected at several smaller drinking water supplies in the state.

The Record newspaper reports  test results from the federal government over the past three years show 1,4-dioxane in Fair Lawn, Garfield, Pompton Lakes and several other towns that rely heavily on wells. It has also been found in nearly 80 other water systems in the state.

The operator of the Wanaque Reservoir has said it wants to test the drinking water to make sure the chemical discovered in a nearby Superfund site isn’t getting into the water supply.

Environmental officials say there’s no imminent health threat from the levels of the chemical that have been detected.