01Homes in Essex County and their plumbing
About 864,000 people lived in Essex County at the 2020 Census.
| Building type | Where you'll often find it | Typical plumbing concerns |
|---|---|---|
| Two- & three-family houses | Newark, East Orange, Irvington, Belleville | Shared drains, lead service lines, water heaters per unit |
| Older single-family houses | Montclair, Glen Ridge, Maplewood, South Orange, West Orange | Cast iron, galvanized supply, sewer laterals, renovations |
| Suburban houses | Livingston, Millburn, Nutley, Bloomfield | Water heaters, sump pumps, frozen pipes |
02Common plumbing problems
- Old cast-iron and galvanized plumbing in early-1900s houses
- Sewer lateral clogs and roots
- Water heater replacement
- Basement water and sump pumps
- Lead service line questions
03Licensing & permits
- Who can do the work
- NJ licensed master plumbers, or employees under their supervision. A homeowner may work on their own single-family home. Details
- Permits
- Construction office of your municipality, under the NJ Uniform Construction Code. How NJ permits work
- Plumbing code
- National Standard Plumbing Code (UCC plumbing subcode)
- Lead service lines
- NJ water utilities must replace lead service lines, generally within 10 years of the 2021 law; you may get a letter from yours
04Water, sewer & gas
- Water
- Newark Dept. of Water & Sewer Utilities (Newark), East Orange Water Commission, NJ American Water and others
- Gas
- PSE&G
- Sewer
- Municipal systems; older areas have combined sewers
Providers vary by street and town. Your bill shows which one serves your address. Smell gas? Leave and call 911 or your gas utility from outside.
05Cities & towns
- Newark →
- Montclair
- Bloomfield
- West Orange
- East Orange
- Livingston
- South Orange
- Maplewood
- Nutley
- Belleville
- Millburn
- Glen Ridge
- Irvington
06Essex County plumbing FAQ
My Montclair house still has galvanized pipes. Should I replace them?
If you have rusty water, weak pressure or leaks at threaded joints, replacement is often worth planning, especially during a renovation. See pipe repair & repiping.
07Nearby areas
Sources & review
Last reviewed . General information, not legal or engineering advice. Rules change and individual buildings differ.