By Scott Gaskill on Tuesday, April 12, 2022
Category: Township News

Washington Township Well Testing Report

 

Did you know that homeowners are responsible for testing their wells for contaminants?
Unlike public water, which is tested by the provider, the quality of well water is the responsibility of the property owner alone. The CDC recommends testing water annually to ensure there are no contaminants present.

 

Percent of sampled wells exceeding contaminant limits in Washington Township
(Data from NJDEP PWTA)

 

Nitrate

0.4%, (1179 wells sampled)

Arsenic

0.3%, (1174 wells sampled)

Iron

26.9%, (1179 wells sampled)

Manganese

17.6%, (1179 wells sampled)

Gross Alpha

0.0%, (29 wells sampled)

VOC

0.4%, (1179 wells sampled)

Fecal coliform or E. coli

1.6%, (1179 wells sampled)

pH

57.2%, (1178 wells sampled)

Contaminants can enter your water through naturally occurring deposits, faulty septic tanks or sewer leaks, and nearby land use practices including farming, manufacturing, and landscaping.

What can you do?

1. Get your well tested for common contaminants annually. The Washington Township Environmental Commission is partnered with Raritan Headwaters Association to offer low-cost testing annually.
2. If needed, remediate.

What should you test for?

Test annually for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids, and PH levels. Test for additional contaminants if you suspect an issue, or if you have noticed any of the following conditions (from the EPA):
 

Conditions or Nearby Activities:

Test for:

Recurring gastro-intestinal illness

Coliform bacteria

Household plumbing or service lines that contain lead

pH, lead, copper

Radon in indoor air or region is radon rich

Radon

Corrosion of pipes, plumbing

Corrosion, pH, lead

Nearby areas of intensive agriculture

Nitrate, nitrite, pesticides, coliform bacteria

Coal or other mining operations nearby

Metals, pH, corrosion

Gas drilling operations nearby

Chloride, sodium, barium, strontium

Dump, junkyard, landfill, factory, gas station or dry-cleaning operation nearby

Volatile organic compounds, total dissolved solids, pH, sulfate, chloride, metals

Odor of gasoline or fuel oil, and near gas station or buried fuel tanks

Volatile organic compounds

Objectionable taste or smell

Hydrogen sulfide, corrosion, metals

Stained plumbing fixtures, laundry

Iron, copper, manganese

Salty taste and seawater, or a heavily salted roadway nearby

Chloride, total dissolved solids, sodium

Scaly residues, soaps don’t lather

Hardness

Rapid wear of water treatment equipment

pH, corrosion

Water softener needed to treat hardness

Manganese, iron

Water appears cloudy, frothy or colored

Color, detergents

How can you fix the problem?
Below are some common contaminants and possible remediation techniques:

Treatment Type

Contaminants Treated

Activated Carbon Filtration

Some organic chemicals, taste, trihamethanes,
some pesticides, odor

Air Stripping

Volatile organic compounds (higher concentrations), iron (with filtration), hydrogen sulfide, radon gas

Chlorinators

Bacteria (coliform), microbiological contamination

Distillation

All inorganic chemicals (i.e., nitrate, sodium chloride), some organic chemicals

Ion Exchange

Hard water, manganese, some heavy metals, calcium, iron

Reverse Osmosis

Certain organic chemicals, nitrates, dissolved solids/metals

Mechanical Filtration

Turbidity, dirt, sediment, particulates

Bottled water

Temporary solution to aesthetic problems & emergency situations

KDF-55 with pH adjustment

Mercury

Ultraviolet Radiation

Bacteria (coliform), microbiological contamination