New Jersey Analytical Laboratories

Private Well Testing Act (PWTA)

New Jersey Analytical Laboratories, LLC was founded and designed with the demands of sampling and analysis of drinking water samples in mind. The staff at NJAL understands the importance of providing quick and accurate results to our clients in order to minimally effect their real estate closing.

NJAL will sample and analyze private well samples for property transfers in accordance with the Private Well Testing Act. This new law, which came into effect September 16, 2002, requires that any transfer of property with an existing potable well, must be tested for certain contaminants and the results disclosed to both the buyer and seller of the property and submitted to the Department of Environmental Protection. All results remain confidential.

PWTA Sampling Services

NJAL, in most cases, will schedule your sampling within 48 hours of your request. Sampling for the PWTA must consist of an untreated (raw) sample. If the property has a water softener, ultra violet light system, or any type of filtration system, these must be bypassed in order to take the sample. NJAL recommends that a treated sample be taken in order to prove that the treatment is remediating the contaminant.

The PWTA requires that a NJDEP certified laboratory (or an agent of) takes the sample and perform certain on-site measurements. These measurements include the pH of the water and GPS coordinates (exact position) of the well.

PWTA Requirements for Testing

Total Coliform Bacteria and E. Coli, pH, nitrate, iron, manganese, lead, and volatile organics.
All counties in New Jersey
Arsenic
Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, and Union counties Mercury (analyzed in partnership with another certified lab)
Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Monmouth, Ocean, and Salem counties.
48 Hour Rapid Gross Alpha Test (analyzed in partnership with another certified lab)
Starting March 15, 2003: Cumberland and Glucester counties.
Starting September 16, 2003: Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, and Salem counties.
Starting March 16, 2004: Cape May, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, and Ocean counties
New Jersey Analytical Laboratories will schedule your sampling within 48 hours of your request and provide your results within 7 business days of sample receipt.

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