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West Milford Township well water test results

West Milford Township, Passaic County, New Jersey. Results of home-sale and rental well tests under the Private Well Testing Act, as summarized by NJDEP for September 2002 – December 2024.

3,782wells sampled (largest count for any parameter)
#1of 269 NJ towns by wells tested in this dataset
Passaiccounty · NJ municipal code 1615

Key findings

The parameters with the highest share of wells over the standard in West Milford Township, from NJDEP's data:

These numbers describe past tests across the town, not any specific house. Wells next door to each other can differ. The only way to know about a particular well is to test it.

All results for West Milford Township

Parameter / standard% of wellsWells sampledNJDEP category
Total coliform bacteria
23.4%
3,779Greater than 20 to 30 percent of wells had total coliform present
Fecal coliform / E. coli
3.2%
3,765Greater than 0 to 5 percent of wells had fecal coliform or E. coli present
Nitrate
10 mg/L MCL		3.2%
3,782Greater than 0 to 15 percent of wells exceeded the 10 mg/L MCL
Arsenic
5 µg/L MCL		1.1%
3,782Greater than 0 to 20 percent of wells exceeded the 5 ug/L MCL
Gross alpha (radioactivity screen)
15 pCi/L MCL		15.3%
1,188Greater than 15 to 30 percent of wells exceeded the 15 pCi/L MCL
Uranium
30 µg/L MCL		5.8%
1,149Greater than 4 to 8 percent of wells exceeded the 30 ug/L MCL
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
0.7%
3,782Greater than 0 to 5 percent of wells exceeded an MCL for any VOC tested
Synthetic organic compounds (SOCs)
0.1%
1,186Greater than 0 to 5 percent of wells exceeded an MCL for any SOC tested
PFAS (any of PFOA, PFOS, PFNA)
25.8%
678Greater than 20 to 40 percent of wells exceeded an MCL for any PFAS tested
PFOA
0.014 µg/L MCL		23.9%
678Greater than 20 to 40 percent of wells exceeded the 0.014 ug/L MCL
PFOS
0.013 µg/L MCL		14.9%
678Greater than 0 to 20 percent of wells exceeded the 0.013 ug/L MCL
PFNA
0.013 µg/L MCL		0.9%
678Greater than 0 to 5 percent of wells exceeded the 0.013 ug/L MCL
Mercury
2 µg/L MCL		Testing not required under PWTATesting not required under PWTA
Iron (secondary standard)
0.3 mg/L standard		33.4%
3,782Greater than 20 to 40 percent of the wells exceeded the 0.3 mg/L standard
Manganese (secondary standard)
0.05 mg/L standard		33.3%
3,782Greater than 20 to 40 percent of the wells exceeded the 0.05 mg/L standard
pH
35.5%
3,782Greater than 20 to 40 percent of wells were outside the optimum range

"% of wells" is the share that exceeded the standard. For bacteria it is the share where bacteria were present; for pH it is the share outside the optimum range. Values are shown exactly as published by NJDEP. Uranium testing is part of the PWTA test in this county. Mercury testing is not required in this county under the PWTA.

What these results mean

Total coliform bacteria
Coliform bacteria are an indicator organism: their presence suggests surface water or soil may be getting into the well. A positive result usually leads to disinfecting the well, checking the well cap and casing, and retesting.
Fecal coliform / E. coli
Fecal coliform or E. coli indicates contamination from human or animal waste (for example a nearby septic system). This is an immediate health concern; the water should not be used for drinking without treatment until the problem is fixed and a retest is clean.
Nitrate
Nitrate commonly comes from fertilizer, septic systems or animal waste. High nitrate is a particular risk for infants.
Arsenic
Arsenic in New Jersey wells is usually naturally occurring in certain bedrock. It has no taste or smell, so only a lab test reveals it. Long-term exposure is linked to health effects; treatment systems are available.
Gross alpha (radioactivity screen)
Gross alpha is a screening test for naturally occurring radioactive elements such as radium and uranium in rock. A high result usually leads to follow-up testing for the specific elements.
Uranium
Uranium is a naturally occurring metal found in some bedrock. Under the PWTA it is required only in certain counties.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
VOCs are man-made chemicals such as fuel components and industrial solvents. Detections often trace back to spills, leaking tanks or old industrial sites.
Synthetic organic compounds (SOCs)
The PWTA's SOC group covers 1,2,3-trichloropropane, ethylene dibromide (EDB) and DBCP, chemicals historically linked to pesticides and soil fumigants.
PFAS (any of PFOA, PFOS, PFNA)
PFAS are long-lasting man-made chemicals. PFOA, PFOS and PFNA were added to the PWTA on December 1, 2021, so far fewer wells have been tested for them than for older parameters.
Mercury
Under the PWTA, mercury testing is required only in certain (mainly southern) counties.
Iron (secondary standard)
Secondary standards relate mainly to taste, odor and staining rather than direct health effects. High iron causes rusty stains and metallic taste and is commonly treated with filtration.
Manganese (secondary standard)
High manganese causes black/brown staining and taste issues. Like iron, it is commonly treated with filtration.
pH
pH measures how acidic the water is. Water outside the optimum range, especially acidic (low-pH) water, can corrode plumbing and dissolve metals such as lead and copper; it is often treated with a neutralizer.

Getting a PWTA test in West Milford Township

You only need to contact one certified lab: it collects the sample (or sends an authorized representative) and subcontracts any tests it is not certified for. Any NJ-certified lab may serve West Milford Township, wherever it is based. These sampling-certified labs are based in or near Passaic County, according to NJDEP DataMiner, retrieved Oct 21, 2026. Confirm current certification before booking.

Based in Passaic County

Based in neighboring counties

Published prices, where labs list them: labs & prices.

Sources