Well water in Upper Saddle River borough, New Jersey
In Upper Saddle River borough, 37% of 181 private wells tested between 2002 and 2024 had PFOA above the New Jersey limit (14 ng/L), according to NJDEP.
1,237 private wells tested 2002 to 2024 in state summaries. 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA | 181 | 37% | 14 ng/L | ||||
| Arsenic | 1,237 | 13% | 5 ug/L | ||||
| Total coliform | 1,235 | 10% | |||||
| PFOS | 181 | 5% | 13 ng/L | ||||
| Iron | 1,237 | 5% | 300 ug/L | ||||
| Manganese | 1,237 | 4% | 50 ug/L | ||||
| E. coli Fecal coliform or | 1,226 | 1% | |||||
| Gross alpha | 319 | <1% | 15 pCi/L | ||||
| Nitrate | 1,237 | <1% | 10 mg/L | ||||
| Uranium | 288 | 0% | 30 ug/L | ||||
| PFNA | 181 | 0% | 13 ng/L |
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What this means
Among homeowners in Upper Saddle River borough who sent a sample to the state lab, the health-based limits most often exceeded were PFOA (37% of 181 wells), arsenic (13% of 1,237 wells), and total coliform (10% of 1,235 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.
What to test for in Upper Saddle River borough
- PFOA37% of 181 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit.
- Arsenic13% of 1,237 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit.
- Total coliform10% of 1,235 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit (any detection).
- PFOS5% of 181 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit.
- Iron5% of 1,237 local wells tested were above the New Jersey nuisance level.
- Manganese4% of 1,237 local wells tested were above the New Jersey nuisance level.
- E. coli1% of 1,226 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit (any detection).
- Gross alpha<1% of 319 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit.
Contamination sources on record in Upper Saddle River borough
NJDEP records 29 regulated sites in Upper Saddle River borough, among 29 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.
- 25
- registered underground storage tank sitesRegistered tanks are regulated and inspected; they matter most when they are old or near a shallow well.
- 4
- other remediation projects
Treatment that fits the local profile
- PFOA
- Granular activated carbon whole-house; Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Anion exchange
- Arsenic
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Adsorptive media (iron-based) whole-house; 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
Get your Upper Saddle River borough 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 Upper Saddle River borough.
Common questions
How often should I test a private well in Upper Saddle River borough?
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
- NJDEP Private Well Testing Act summaries: summaries for 11 contaminants in Upper Saddle River borough, up to 1,237 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: 29 regulated sites located in Upper Saddle River borough. 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.