Well water in Buena Vista township, New Jersey
In Buena Vista township, 10% of 1,194 private wells tested between 2002 and 2024 had nitrate above the New Jersey limit (10 mg/L), according to NJDEP.
1,194 private wells tested 2002 to 2024 in state summaries; 24 individual samples from 10 wells, 1985 to 2023. Data refreshed September 9, 2026.
What homeowner tests found
NJDEP Private Well Testing Act summaries: private wells tested and reported to the state, 2002 to 2024. Shares are against the level the state applies to each contaminant, named in the last column; several are stricter than EPA.
| Contaminant | Wells tested | Above state level | Median | 95th pct | Highest | State level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron | 1,194 | 25% | 300 ug/L | ||||
| Gross alpha | 1,155 | 21% | 15 pCi/L | ||||
| Manganese | 1,194 | 19% | 50 ug/L | ||||
| Nitrate | 1,194 | 10% | 10 mg/L | ||||
| PFOA | 194 | 8% | 14 ng/L | ||||
| Total coliform | 1,188 | 7% | |||||
| PFOS | 194 | 6% | 13 ng/L | ||||
| E. coli Fecal coliform or | 1,188 | <1% | |||||
| Arsenic | 434 | <1% | 5 ug/L | ||||
| PFNA | 194 | 0% | 13 ng/L |
What individual samples found
Each row summarizes every public sample for that contaminant inside Buena Vista township. Above limit means above the EPA maximum contaminant level; where EPA has no enforceable limit, the row shows a health guideline or nuisance level instead.
| Contaminant | Samples | Detected | Above limit | Median | Highest | Limit | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radium (226 + 228) 1996 to 2018 | 22 | 95% | 18% | 1.5 | 21.8 | 5 pCi/L EPA limit | |
| Arsenic 1985 to 2023 | 24 | 33% | 0% | 0 | 6 | 10 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Uranium 1996 to 2018 | 12 | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 30 ug/L EPA limit |
Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: PFOA (2), PFOS (2), Lead (3), Fluoride (2), Radon (9), Sodium (1).
Get the free Buena Vista township well report
One email with the numbers above, what they mean for a home in Buena Vista township, exactly which tests to order, and what treatment fits the local profile. No spam, unsubscribe in one click.
What this means
Among homeowners in Buena Vista township who sent a sample to the state lab, the health-based limits most often exceeded were nitrate (10% of 1,194 wells), PFOA (8% of 194 wells), and total coliform (7% of 1,188 wells). These are ordinary wells tested by their owners, so the shares are the best available picture of a typical well here, with one caveat: people test more often when they suspect a problem.
Iron and manganese exceed the state's advisory level in a sizable share of wells; these are mostly a taste, staining or diet issue rather than a toxicity one.
What to test for in Buena Vista township
- Iron25% of 1,194 local wells tested were above the New Jersey nuisance level.
- Gross alpha21% of 1,155 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit.
- Manganese19% of 1,194 local wells tested were above the New Jersey nuisance level.
- Radium (226 + 228)18% of 22 local samples were above the limit.
- Nitrate10% of 1,194 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit.
- PFOA8% of 194 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit.
- Total coliform7% of 1,188 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit (any detection).
- PFOS6% of 194 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit.
Contamination sources on record in Buena Vista township
NJDEP records 50 regulated sites in Buena Vista township, among 50 regulated sites in total. Groundwater does not follow property lines, so a well within a few hundred feet of one of these is worth testing for what that site could release.
- 36
- registered underground storage tank sitesRegistered tanks are regulated and inspected; they matter most when they are old or near a shallow well.
- 2
- lined landfills and transfer facilities
- 12
- other remediation projects
Treatment that fits the local profile
- Nitrate
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Anion exchange; Distillation
- PFOA
- Granular activated carbon whole-house; Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Anion exchange
- Total coliform
- Inspect and repair the well cap and casing, then shock chlorinate and retest; UV disinfection whole-house; Chlorination system
- PFOS
- Granular activated carbon whole-house; Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Anion exchange
- Gross alpha
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Water softener (cation exchange) for radium; Anion exchange for uranium
- Radium (226 + 228)
- Water softener (cation exchange); Point-of-use reverse osmosis
Get your Buena Vista township water tested at home
A licensed local water treatment company tests your tap water in your home, walks you through the numbers, and quotes treatment only if something needs fixing. Free, about 30 minutes, no obligation. Tell us what you need and we match you with a company that serves Buena Vista township.
Common questions
Is there arsenic in well water in Buena Vista township?
Arsenic was detected in 33% of 24 public well samples in Buena Vista township, and 0% were above the EPA limit of 10 ug/L. Arsenic has no taste or smell; a lab test is the only way to know your level.
How high is radon in well water in Buena Vista township?
The median radon level across 9 public samples in Buena Vista township was 250 pCi/L, with a high of 390 pCi/L. New Hampshire recommends treatment above 2,000 pCi/L.
How often should I test a private well in Buena Vista township?
Test for bacteria and nitrate every year. Test once for arsenic, uranium, radon, fluoride, manganese and PFAS, then again every three to five years or after any change in taste, color, or plumbing.
Sources
- USGS Water Quality Portal: 77 samples in Buena Vista township. Data from the Water Quality Portal, a service of USGS, EPA and USDA; groundwater samples collected by USGS and cooperators. Retrieved September 3, 2026.
- NJDEP Private Well Testing Act summaries: summaries for 10 contaminants in Buena Vista township, up to 1,194 wells each. Share of private wells exceeding each standard in tests required at sale or lease under the New Jersey Private Well Testing Act, September 2002 to December 2024, published by NJDEP. Tests are untreated water at the time of sale or lease, so every well is counted once per transaction. Municipalities with fewer than ten wells are suppressed. Standards are New Jersey's: arsenic 5 ug/L, PFOA 14 ng/L, PFOS 13 ng/L, PFNA 13 ng/L, manganese and iron secondary standards. Uranium and PFAS were added to the required panel in 2021 and 2020, so their well counts are smaller. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
- NJDEP regulated sites: 50 regulated sites located in Buena Vista township. Known Contaminated Sites, regulated underground storage tank facilities and solid waste landfills from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJ-GeoWeb). Retrieved September 9, 2026.
Non-detects count as samples and are treated as zero when computing medians. Exactly at the limit counts as not above it. A sample belongs to the town containing the well's reported coordinates.