Well water in Lower township, New Jersey
In Lower township, 16% of 71 private wells tested between 2002 and 2024 had PFOA above the New Jersey limit (14 ng/L), according to NJDEP.
2,122 private wells tested 2002 to 2024 in state summaries; 42 individual samples from 21 wells, 1965 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 | 2,122 | 47% | 50 ug/L | ||||
| Iron | 2,122 | 38% | 300 ug/L | ||||
| PFOA | 71 | 16% | 14 ng/L | ||||
| PFOS | 71 | 9% | 13 ng/L | ||||
| Total coliform | 2,122 | 6% | |||||
| Nitrate | 2,122 | 2% | 10 mg/L | ||||
| E. coli Fecal coliform or | 2,122 | 1% | |||||
| Gross alpha | 1,779 | <1% | 15 pCi/L | ||||
| Arsenic | 228 | 0% | 5 ug/L | ||||
| PFNA | 71 | 0% | 13 ng/L |
What individual samples found
Each row summarizes every public sample for that contaminant inside Lower 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic 1985 to 2026 | 42 | 24% | 0% | 0 | 0.87 | 10 ug/L EPA limit |
Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: Copper (3), Fluoride (2), Chloride (6), Iron (2), Manganese (2), Sodium (1).
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What this means
Among homeowners in Lower township who sent a sample to the state lab, the health-based limits most often exceeded were PFOA (16% of 71 wells), PFOS (9% of 71 wells), and total coliform (6% of 2,122 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 Lower township
- Manganese47% of 2,122 local wells tested were above the New Jersey nuisance level.
- Iron38% of 2,122 local wells tested were above the New Jersey nuisance level.
- PFOA16% of 71 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit.
- PFOS9% of 71 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit.
- Total coliform6% of 2,122 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit (any detection).
- Nitrate2% of 2,122 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit.
- E. coli1% of 2,122 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit (any detection).
- Gross alpha<1% of 1,779 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit.
Contamination sources on record in Lower township
NJDEP records 102 regulated sites in Lower township, among 102 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.
- 79
- registered underground storage tank sitesRegistered tanks are regulated and inspected; they matter most when they are old or near a shallow well.
- 3
- lined landfills and transfer facilities
- 20
- 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 Lower 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 Lower township.
Common questions
Is there arsenic in well water in Lower township?
Arsenic was detected in 24% of 42 public well samples in Lower 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 often should I test a private well in Lower 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: 58 samples in Lower 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 Lower township, up to 2,122 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: 102 regulated sites located in Lower 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.