Well water in Toms River township, New Jersey
In Toms River township, none of 54 tested well samples exceeded the EPA limit for radium (226 + 228), based on public data from USGS Water Quality Portal.
755 private wells tested 2002 to 2024 in state summaries; 54 individual samples from 29 wells, 1958 to 2024. 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 | 752 | 39% | 300 ug/L | ||||
| Manganese | 752 | 32% | 50 ug/L | ||||
| Gross alpha | 687 | 11% | 15 pCi/L | ||||
| PFOA | 40 | 10% | 14 ng/L | ||||
| Total coliform | 752 | 6% | |||||
| PFOS | 40 | 5% | 13 ng/L | ||||
| PFNA | 40 | 5% | 13 ng/L | ||||
| E. coli Fecal coliform or | 752 | <1% | |||||
| Arsenic | 226 | <1% | 5 ug/L | ||||
| Nitrate | 755 | 0% | 10 mg/L |
What individual samples found
Each row summarizes every public sample for that contaminant inside Toms River 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) 1990 to 2018 | 54 | 91% | 0% | 1.75 | 3.1 | 5 pCi/L EPA limit | |
| Arsenic 1981 to 2024 | 27 | 26% | 0% | 0 | 2 | 10 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Uranium 1990 to 2018 | 17 | 6% | 0% | 0 | 0.04 | 30 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Radon 1990 to 2006 | 31 | 97% | no limit | 220 | 670 | 2,000 pCi/L health guideline |
Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: PFOA (2), PFOS (2), Lead (1), Nitrate (1), Fluoride (1), Sodium (1), Chloride (1), Manganese (1).
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What this means
Among homeowners in Toms River township who sent a sample to the state lab, the health-based limits most often exceeded were PFOA (10% of 40 wells), total coliform (6% of 752 wells), and PFOS (5% of 40 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 Toms River township
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)2 hazardous waste sites on record locally.
- Metals panel2 hazardous waste sites on record locally.
- Iron39% of 752 local wells tested were above the New Jersey nuisance level.
- Manganese32% of 752 local wells tested were above the New Jersey nuisance level.
- Gross alpha11% of 687 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit.
- PFOA10% of 40 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit.
- Total coliform6% of 752 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit (any detection).
- PFOS5% of 40 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit.
- PFNA5% of 40 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit.
- E. coli<1% of 752 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit (any detection).
Contamination sources on record in Toms River township
NJDEP records 2 hazardous waste sites in Toms River township, among 376 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.
- 338
- 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
- 34
- other remediation projects
Treatment that fits the local profile
- 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
- PFNA
- 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
- Chloride
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Distillation
Get your Toms River 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 Toms River township.
Common questions
Is there arsenic in well water in Toms River township?
Arsenic was detected in 26% of 27 public well samples in Toms River 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 Toms River township?
The median radon level across 31 public samples in Toms River township was 220 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 Toms River 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: 139 samples in Toms River 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 Toms River township, up to 755 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: 376 regulated sites located in Toms River 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.