Well water in South Plainfield borough, New Jersey
In South Plainfield borough, 9% of 32 private wells tested between 2002 and 2024 had total coliform above the New Jersey limit (any detection), according to NJDEP.
32 private wells tested 2002 to 2024 in state summaries; 2 individual samples from 2 wells, 1985 to 1987. 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.
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What this means
Among homeowners in South Plainfield borough who sent a sample to the state lab, the health-based limits most often exceeded were total coliform (9% of 32 wells) and arsenic (3% of 32 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 South Plainfield borough
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)2 hazardous waste sites on record locally.
- Metals panel2 hazardous waste sites on record locally.
- Total coliform9% of 32 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit (any detection).
- Iron9% of 32 local wells tested were above the New Jersey nuisance level.
- Arsenic3% of 32 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit.
- Coliform bacteriaRecommended for every private well, every year.
- NitrateRecommended for every private well, especially near farms or septic systems.
Contamination sources on record in South Plainfield borough
NJDEP records 2 hazardous waste sites in South Plainfield borough, among 253 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.
- 2
- hazardous waste sitesSolvents, degreasers and metals from industrial sites can travel far in fractured bedrock.
- 177
- 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
- 72
- other remediation projects
Treatment that fits the local profile
- Total coliform
- Inspect and repair the well cap and casing, then shock chlorinate and retest; UV disinfection whole-house; Chlorination system
- Iron
- Oxidizing filter whole-house; Water softener (low levels); Aeration plus filtration
Get your South Plainfield borough water tested at home
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Common questions
Is there arsenic in well water in South Plainfield borough?
Arsenic was detected in 100% of 1 public well samples in South Plainfield borough, 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 South Plainfield 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
- USGS Water Quality Portal: 3 samples in South Plainfield borough. 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 6 contaminants in South Plainfield borough, up to 32 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: 253 regulated sites located in South Plainfield 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.