IMPORTANCE OF REGULAR WELL TESTING

If you have a private, potable well, it is extremely important that you have it tested regularly for quality to ensure the water you are drinking and bathing in is safe.  It is important to remember that, as a homeowner or property owner, your private, domestic potable well is YOUR responsibility when it comes to having it serviced, maintained and tested regularly.  Ocean County Ordinance 94-1 also requires full testing and certification by this agency for drinking water standards in the following situations: 1) a real estate transaction; 2) prior to rental in a residence or business served by a private, potable well; and 3) prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy, if required by the municipality.

In addition, if you are a landlord, you are required by the Ordinance to have the water tested.  Once tested and all required drinking water parameters have passed safe drinking standards, the well system is then certified by this agency prior to occupancy.  This testing must occur prior to occupancy of a tenant, and at least once every five years if no new tenant (residential or business) occupies the property.  A certification of the water system by this agency is good for 6 months from the date of the test.

Even if you had your well tested in the past and no contaminants were found, it is advisable that you have your well tested periodically.  Should contaminants be found in this testing, a report of the found contaminant should be forwarded to this agency.  


The Ocean County Health Department strongly recommends that anyone with a private well should have it tested annually for bacteria and nitrates, and at least periodically for the full range of contaminants required by the Private Well Testing Act (NJSA 58:12A-26 et seq).  

Click here for a link to Ocean County Ordinance 94-1.

Click here for literature concerning private drinking water wells (updated 2019).

Click here for NJDEP website to learn more about drinking water.
 
Click here for a list of current Certified Drinking Water Labs.