Well water in Cape May County, New Jersey
In Cape May County, 11% of 696 private wells tested between 2002 and 2024 had PFOA above the New Jersey limit (14 ng/L), according to NJDEP.
7,348 private wells tested 2002 to 2024 in state summaries; 152 individual samples from 70 wells, 1927 to 2026. 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manganese | 7,348 | 48% | 50 ug/L | ||||
| Iron | 7,348 | 42% | 300 ug/L | ||||
| PFOA | 696 | 11% | 14 ng/L | ||||
| PFOS | 696 | 7% | 13 ng/L | ||||
| Total coliform | 7,330 | 7% | |||||
| Nitrate | 7,348 | 2% | 10 mg/L | ||||
| Gross alpha | 6,624 | 1% | 15 pCi/L | ||||
| PFNA | 696 | <1% | 13 ng/L | ||||
| E. coli Fecal coliform or | 7,329 | <1% | |||||
| Arsenic | 1,800 | <1% | 5 ug/L |
What individual samples found
Each row summarizes every public sample for that contaminant inside Cape May County. 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic 1984 to 2026 | 152 | 26% | 0% | 0 | 3.7 | 10 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Radium (226 + 228) 1990 to 2018 | 16 | 75% | 0% | 0.063 | 0.53 | 5 pCi/L EPA limit | |
| Uranium 1990 to 2018 | 13 | 62% | 0% | 0.11 | 0.191 | 30 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Radon 1990 to 2024 | 13 | 100% | no limit | 74 | 670 | 2,000 pCi/L health guideline | |
| Chloride 1927 to 2023 | 11 | 100% | no limit | 54 | 3,370 | 250 mg/L nuisance level |
Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: Fluoride (6), Copper (5), PFOS (4), PFOA (4), Nitrate (1), Iron (5), Manganese (4), Sodium (3).
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What this means
Among homeowners in Cape May County who sent a sample to the state lab, the health-based limits most often exceeded were PFOA (11% of 696 wells), PFOS (7% of 696 wells), and total coliform (7% of 7,330 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.
Manganese and iron 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 Cape May County
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)1 hazardous waste site on record locally.
- Metals panel1 hazardous waste site on record locally.
- Manganese48% of 7,348 local wells tested were above the New Jersey nuisance level.
- Iron42% of 7,348 local wells tested were above the New Jersey nuisance level.
- PFOA11% of 696 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit.
- PFOS7% of 696 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit.
- Total coliform7% of 7,330 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit (any detection).
- Nitrate2% of 7,348 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit.
- Gross alpha1% of 6,624 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit.
- PFNA<1% of 696 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit.
Contamination sources on record in Cape May County
NJDEP records 1 hazardous waste site in Cape May County, among 785 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.
- 1
- hazardous waste siteSolvents, degreasers and metals from industrial sites can travel far in fractured bedrock.
- 637
- registered underground storage tank sitesRegistered tanks are regulated and inspected; they matter most when they are old or near a shallow well.
- 14
- lined landfills and transfer facilities
- 133
- other remediation projects
Treatment that fits the local profile
- PFOA
- Granular activated carbon whole-house; Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Anion exchange
- PFOS
- 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
- Manganese
- Oxidizing filter (greensand, birm) whole-house; Water softener (low levels); Point-of-use reverse osmosis
- Iron
- Oxidizing filter whole-house; Water softener (low levels); Aeration plus filtration
- Fluoride
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Activated alumina; Distillation
Get your Cape May County 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 Cape May County.
Common questions
Is there arsenic in well water in Cape May County?
Arsenic was detected in 26% of 152 public well samples in Cape May County, 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 Cape May County?
The median radon level across 13 public samples in Cape May County was 74 pCi/L, with a high of 670 pCi/L. New Hampshire recommends treatment above 2,000 pCi/L.
How often should I test a private well in Cape May County?
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.
Towns in Cape May County
- Dennis township9% pfoa
- Lower township16% pfoa
- Middle township11% pfoa
- Upper township12% pfoa
- West Cape May borough5% total coliform
- Woodbine borough2% nitrate
10 towns have fewer than 30 public samples and are included in the Cape May County totals above rather than shown separately: Avalon borough, Cape May, Cape May Point borough, North Wildwood, Ocean City, Sea Isle City, Stone Harbor borough, West Wildwood borough, Wildwood, Wildwood Crest borough.
Sources
- USGS Water Quality Portal: 237 samples in Cape May County. 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 Cape May County, up to 7,348 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: 785 regulated sites located in Cape May County. 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.