Well Testing

Requirements

A satisfactory water test through this department is necessary for all new wells drilled in the Township. The NJ DEP requires all residences serviced by private well to be tested on transfer of title under the NJ Private Well Testing Act.  

UPDATE As of December 2021, the NJ Private Well Test Act requires PFOS (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid) testing, in addition to the other tests required under the NJ Private Well testing Act.  Please review the NJ DEP FAQ on PFOS testing for further information.  The State Department of Environmental Protection requires a well test on any sale of real property in the state; for more information on the "Private Well Testing Act" please view their well testing page or contact them at (866) 4PW-TEST

The link to the NJ DEP FAQ is https://www.nj.gov/dep/pfas/docs/faq-pfas-in-drinking-water.pdf

Contaminated Private Well Financial Assistance Information


How Water is Delivered

Water is supplied to a home in one of two ways, either a public water supply or a private well. A public supply of water can be generated from wells or surface water, which is then treated in a water treatment plant. All public water in Roxbury is provided from wells. Products such as chlorine are then added to disinfect the water. There are two entities that supply water to Roxbury residents depending on where you live, either New Jersey American Water (a private utility) or Roxbury Township. Public water systems are regulated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and must follow the strict standards of the New Jersey Safe Drinking Water Act to assure the best quality of water is supplied to the public.

A private water supply is one that serves a single household. This water supply is generated from a well which pumps water up from the ground and into your house. A private well is regulated only by the Private Well Testing Act, which requires testing on the transfer of real estate only. It is up to the homeowner to have their well water tested periodically for impurities. There are some tests that the NJDEP and local health department recommend for home wells to help ensure safety of your water supply.

Recommended Water Tests for Existing Home Wells

We recommend you contact a certified laboratory to assist you with conducting the below testing. You can find of list of such labs on our Water Testing Providers page or in the yellow pages.
  • Bacteria (total coliform) every six months
  • Hardness initial (at least once)
  • Iron initial (at least once)
  • Lead initial (at least once)
  • Manganese initial (at least once)
  • Nitrates annually
  • PFOS
  • pH initial (at least once)
  • Volatile Organic Chemicals annually

Once you have received a report from the lab please free to contact us if you have any questions. If you decide that remediation is required you can contact a water treatment company to assist you with any treatment units that may be needed. Depending on the area of the township that you live in we may recommend other tests that should be performed to help ensure your water quality. You can always feel free to contact the health department with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your well at (973) 448-2028 Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:30 pm.