What is it and why is it important?

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) created the Private Well Testing Act (PWTA) in 2004, a new law aimed at disclosing important information about private drinking water wells. The state keeps record of this water coming from aquifers deep beneath the soil surface. An aquifer is an underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock or materials (ie. gravel, sand, silt, clay) from which groundwater can be extracted using a water well. Because New Jersey receives most of its water from underground aquifers, it is important to make sure that they are producing clean, uncontaminated water.

What is this test usually used for?

This test is most used in real estate deals before closings. Under the PWTA, certain wells must be tested before a house can be sold. Both the buyer and seller are required certify in writing that this test was conducted and its results were shared with each party. Also, landlords of certain properties must test for certain drinking water parameters and provide a written copy of the result to their tenants. This testing provides important information about your drinking water quality.

Can you do test my well for me?

Yes, the PWTA is a simple water test that we can conduct for you. We test from a standardized list of pollutants and compare them to state-regulated allowance levels. The lab analysis is shortened into an simple form for you to analyze. Contact our main office directly to schedule your PWTA. Please specify if you would like to test for Gross Alpha, as well.

What if I fail my water test?

In order to be able to continue drinking from your private well, you must install a conditioning system. This system specifically filters out certain pollutants from your private well before they reach your faucet.

Can you install a water conditioning system for me?

No. Unfortunately, we do not install water conditioning systems. If you are interested in this option, contact our main office directly for a list of recommended installation experts.

What do I do after I install my conditioning system?

To make sure that your conditioning system is working properly, we often return to homes to conduct a water retest. Ensuring speed and cost efficiency, this retest only measures the parameters that you failed for in your first PWTA.

What do I do if I fail a second time?

This is an extremely uncommon occurrence. However, if you fail for the same parameter a second time you must contact your conditioning system installation company. After the problem is solved, we can conduct a third water test to ensure absolute PWTA compliance.