Research Project Summary: The New Jersey Private Well Testing Act: An Overview

In March 2001, the New Jersey Private Well Testing Act (PWTA) was signed into law, and its regulations became effective in September 2002. The PWTA is a consumer information law that requires sellers (or buyers) of property with wells in NJ to test the untreated ground water for a variety of water quality parameters, including 32 of human health concern, and to review the test results prior to closing of title. Landlords are also required to test their well water once every five years and to provide each tenant with a copy of the test results. The test data is submitted electronically by the test laboratories to the NJ Department of Environmental Protection for statewide analysis of ground water quality. This report provides details of the PWTA, including individual sample and PWTA program costs, and issues related to program implementation and electronic data quality. The information is provided for the benefit of states or municipalities that might be considering their own private well testing program, and as reference material for a report that analyzed the first four and a half years of test data (Louis at al, 2009).Purpose: To explain the New Jersey Private Well Testing Act (PWTA