How to Read Your NJ Well Water Test Report

Your PWTA test report will land as a multi-page lab document listing up to 43 parameters, each with a number, a unit, and usually a comparison value. If you've never seen one before, it can look more intimidating than it actually is. Here's how to actually read it.

The basic structure of the report

Most NJDEP-certified labs format their PWTA reports the same general way: a table with columns for the parameter name, your result, the unit of measurement, and the regulatory standard it's being compared against (often labeled MCL — Maximum Contaminant Level — or a state-specific action level). Some labs add a plain-language flag column: "Pass," "Exceeds Standard," or similar.

Reports are organized into the same categories the PWTA panel itself is organized into:

1. Microbiological — total coliform bacteria and E. coli. This section is simple: either detected or not detected. Any detection here matters and typically needs a fast follow-up.
2. Inorganic chemicals — pH, nitrate, iron, manganese, lead, arsenic. Each has its own comparison standard, and unlike bacteria, these are measured on a sliding numeric scale rather than a simple yes/no.
3. Radiological — gross alpha particle activity, plus uranium if you're in one of the twelve counties (including Hunterdon) where it's required.
4. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and Synthetic Organic Compounds (SOCs) — a long list of specific chemical compounds, each usually reported as "non-detect" unless something is actually present.
5. PFAS — PFOA, PFOS, and PFNA specifically, each compared against New Jersey's own maximum contaminant levels (New Jersey set these enforceable limits ahead of federal action, and EPA's more recent federal limits for PFOA and PFOS are now lower than NJ's).

What "non-detect" actually means

"Non-detect" (sometimes shown as "ND" or "<" a small number) means the lab's testing method didn't find the compound above its detection threshold — not that there's a guaranteed zero amount present, but that any amount is below what the equipment can reliably measure and below any level of concern. For the VOC/SOC section in particular, seeing a long column of "non-detect" is the expected, good outcome — you're not missing anything by not seeing exciting numbers there.

What it means when a result exceeds the standard

An exceedance means your result is above the MCL or state action level for that specific parameter — not that your water is unsafe to touch, cook with, or bathe in for most parameters (bacteria is the exception; treat a bacteria detection with more urgency). Context matters a lot here:

• Nitrate, arsenic, uranium, lead — these are health-based standards; an exceedance is worth addressing, especially for infants, pregnant women, or long-term daily consumption.
• Iron and manganese — these have "secondary" standards, meaning they're about aesthetics and plumbing (staining, taste, buildup) more than direct health risk at typical levels.
• pH — outside the typical range isn't a health issue by itself, but can accelerate pipe corrosion or affect how other treatment systems perform.

What to actually do with an exceedance

1. Don't panic — the exceedances that come up most in this region, such as arsenic, low pH, iron, and manganese, trace back to naturally occurring geology (see Why Hunterdon Requires Uranium Testing), and bacteria usually point to the well's construction or surroundings, not contamination someone caused.
2. Identify exactly which parameter(s) exceeded and by how much — the report will show both your number and the standard, so you can see the gap.
3. Get a referral to a treatment approach suited to that specific parameter — bacteria, minerals, and radiological results all call for different fixes. See Water Treatment Referral & Consultation.
4. Retest after any treatment system is installed to confirm it actually worked — this step gets skipped more often than it should.

A note for real estate transactions specifically

In a sale, both the buyer and seller are legally required to receive and review the report before closing. An exceedance doesn't automatically kill the deal — most purchase contracts handle it through a negotiated credit, a pre-closing treatment fix, or an agreed retest — but it does need to be dealt with before title transfers, not glossed over. If you're navigating this as a buyer specifically, our Buying a Home on a Private Well guide walks through the full transaction timeline.