Well water in Passaic County, New Jersey
In Passaic County, 31% of 931 private wells tested between 2002 and 2024 had PFOA above the New Jersey limit (14 ng/L), according to NJDEP.
5,838 private wells tested 2002 to 2024 in state summaries; 54 individual samples from 30 wells, 1987 to 2025. 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 | 931 | 31% | 14 ng/L | ||||
| Iron | 5,838 | 26% | 300 ug/L | ||||
| Manganese | 5,838 | 25% | 50 ug/L | ||||
| Total coliform | 5,835 | 22% | |||||
| PFOS | 931 | 15% | 13 ng/L | ||||
| Gross alpha | 1,710 | 12% | 15 pCi/L | ||||
| Uranium | 1,632 | 4% | 30 ug/L | ||||
| Nitrate | 5,838 | 4% | 10 mg/L | ||||
| E. coli Fecal coliform or | 5,809 | 3% | |||||
| Arsenic | 5,838 | 1% | 5 ug/L | ||||
| PFNA | 931 | 1% | 13 ng/L |
What individual samples found
Each row summarizes every public sample for that contaminant inside Passaic 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 1987 to 2025 | 54 | 56% | 0% | 0.07 | 4.8 | 10 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Uranium 1997 to 2014 | 15 | 73% | 0% | 4.29 | 17.4 | 30 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Radium (226 + 228) 2007 to 2014 | 13 | 92% | 0% | 0.25 | 2.9 | 5 pCi/L EPA limit | |
| Radon 1997 to 2014 | 12 | 100% | no limit | 3,980 | 14,200 | 2,000 pCi/L health guideline |
Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: PFOA (6), PFOS (6), Copper (3), Nitrate (1), Iron (1).
Get the free Passaic County well report
One email with the numbers above, what they mean for a home in Passaic County, exactly which tests to order, and what treatment fits the local profile. No spam, unsubscribe in one click.
What this means
Among homeowners in Passaic County who sent a sample to the state lab, the health-based limits most often exceeded were PFOA (31% of 931 wells), total coliform (22% of 5,835 wells), and PFOS (15% of 931 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 Passaic County
- PFOA31% of 931 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit.
- Iron26% of 5,838 local wells tested were above the New Jersey nuisance level.
- Manganese25% of 5,838 local wells tested were above the New Jersey nuisance level.
- Total coliform22% of 5,835 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit (any detection).
- PFOS15% of 931 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit.
- Gross alpha12% of 1,710 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit.
- Uranium4% of 1,632 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit.
- Nitrate4% of 5,838 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit.
Contamination sources on record in Passaic County
NJDEP records 2,979 regulated sites in Passaic County, among 2,979 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.
- 2,293
- registered underground storage tank sitesRegistered tanks are regulated and inspected; they matter most when they are old or near a shallow well.
- 9
- lined landfills and transfer facilities
- 677
- 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
- Gross alpha
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Water softener (cation exchange) for radium; Anion exchange for uranium
- Iron
- Oxidizing filter whole-house; Water softener (low levels); Aeration plus filtration
- Copper
- Neutralizing filter to raise pH; Point-of-use reverse osmosis
Get your Passaic 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 Passaic County.
Common questions
Is there arsenic in well water in Passaic County?
Arsenic was detected in 56% of 54 public well samples in Passaic 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 Passaic County?
The median radon level across 12 public samples in Passaic County was 3,980 pCi/L, with a high of 14,200 pCi/L. New Hampshire recommends treatment above 2,000 pCi/L.
How often should I test a private well in Passaic 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 Passaic County
- Bloomingdale borough25% total coliform
- North Haledon borough74% pfoa
- Ringwood borough34% pfoa
- Wanaque borough21% total coliform
- Wayne township66% pfoa
- West Milford township24% pfoa
- Woodland Park borough29% total coliform
9 towns have fewer than 30 public samples and are included in the Passaic County totals above rather than shown separately: Clifton, Haledon borough, Hawthorne borough, Little Falls township, Passaic, Paterson, Pompton Lakes borough, Prospect Park borough, Totowa borough.
Sources
- USGS Water Quality Portal: 111 samples in Passaic 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 11 contaminants in Passaic County, up to 5,838 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: 2,979 regulated sites located in Passaic 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.