Well Water Nerd

Well water in Hopatcong borough, New Jersey

In Hopatcong borough, 60% of 391 private wells tested between 2002 and 2024 had PFOA above the New Jersey limit (14 ng/L), according to NJDEP.

2,184 private wells tested 2002 to 2024 in state summaries. 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.

ContaminantWells testedAbove state levelMedian95th pctHighestState level
PFOA39160%14 ng/L
PFOS39158%13 ng/L
Iron2,18439%300 ug/L
Manganese2,18438%50 ug/L
Total coliform2,18329%
Gross alpha87014%15 pCi/L
Nitrate2,1849%10 mg/L
E. coli
Fecal coliform or
2,1714%
Uranium766<1%30 ug/L
PFNA391<1%13 ng/L
Arsenic1,705<1%5 ug/L

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What this means

Among homeowners in Hopatcong borough who sent a sample to the state lab, the health-based limits most often exceeded were PFOA (60% of 391 wells), PFOS (58% of 391 wells), and total coliform (29% of 2,183 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 Hopatcong borough

  • PFOA60% of 391 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit.
  • PFOS58% of 391 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit.
  • Iron39% of 2,184 local wells tested were above the New Jersey nuisance level.
  • Manganese38% of 2,184 local wells tested were above the New Jersey nuisance level.
  • Total coliform29% of 2,183 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit (any detection).
  • Gross alpha14% of 870 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit.
  • Nitrate9% of 2,184 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit.
  • E. coli4% of 2,171 local wells tested were above the New Jersey limit (any detection).

Contamination sources on record in Hopatcong borough

NJDEP records 47 regulated sites in Hopatcong borough, among 47 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.

32
registered underground storage tank sitesRegistered tanks are regulated and inspected; they matter most when they are old or near a shallow well.
1
lined landfill or transfer facility
14
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
Nitrate
Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Anion exchange; Distillation
Gross alpha
Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Water softener (cation exchange) for radium; Anion exchange for uranium

Get your Hopatcong borough 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 Hopatcong borough.

What are you worried about?

The test is free and there is no obligation. Your details go only to the company named above, and we log the time and address of this request.

Common questions

How often should I test a private well in Hopatcong 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

  • NJDEP Private Well Testing Act summaries: summaries for 11 contaminants in Hopatcong borough, up to 2,184 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: 47 regulated sites located in Hopatcong 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.