Middle Township well water test results
Middle Township, Cape May County, New Jersey. Results of home-sale and rental well tests under the Private Well Testing Act, as summarized by NJDEP for September 2002 – December 2024.
2,238wells sampled (largest count for any parameter)
#6of 269 NJ towns by wells tested in this dataset
Cape Maycounty · NJ municipal code 0506
Key findings
The parameters with the highest share of wells over the standard in Middle Township, from NJDEP's data:
- Manganese (secondary standard): 60.1% of 2,238 wells sampled exceeded the secondary standard (0.05 mg/L standard).
- Iron (secondary standard): 55.8% of 2,238 wells sampled exceeded the secondary standard (0.3 mg/L standard).
- pH: 36.3% of 2,238 wells sampled were outside the optimum range.
- PFAS (any of PFOA, PFOS, PFNA): 11.3% of 274 wells sampled exceeded a standard for at least one PFAS.
- Total coliform bacteria: 9% of 2,232 wells sampled had total coliform present.
These numbers describe past tests across the town, not any specific house. Wells next door to each other can differ. The only way to know about a particular well is to test it.
All results for Middle Township
| Parameter / standard | % of wells | Wells sampled | NJDEP category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total coliform bacteria | 9% | 2,232 | Greater than 0 to 10 percent of wells had total coliform present |
| Fecal coliform / E. coli | 1.1% | 2,232 | Greater than 0 to 5 percent of wells had fecal coliform or E. coli present |
| Nitrate 10 mg/L MCL | 1.5% | 2,238 | Greater than 0 to 15 percent of wells exceeded the 10 mg/L MCL |
| Arsenic 5 µg/L MCL | 0.2% | 651 | Greater than 0 to 20 percent of wells exceeded the 5 ug/L MCL |
| Gross alpha (radioactivity screen) 15 pCi/L MCL | 0.1% | 2,060 | Greater than 0 to 15 percent of wells exceeded the 15 pCi/L MCL |
| Uranium 30 µg/L MCL | Testing not required under PWTA | Testing not required under PWTA | |
| Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) | 0.9% | 2,238 | Greater than 0 to 5 percent of wells exceeded an MCL for any VOC tested |
| Synthetic organic compounds (SOCs) | 0.3% | 644 | Greater than 0 to 5 percent of wells exceeded an MCL for any SOC tested |
| PFAS (any of PFOA, PFOS, PFNA) | 11.3% | 274 | Greater than 0 to 20 percent of wells exceeded an MCL for any PFAS tested |
| PFOA 0.014 µg/L MCL | 10.9% | 274 | Greater than 0 to 20 percent of wells exceeded the 0.014 ug/L MCL |
| PFOS 0.013 µg/L MCL | 5.5% | 274 | Greater than 0 to 20 percent of wells exceeded the 0.013 ug/L MCL |
| PFNA 0.013 µg/L MCL | 1.1% | 274 | Greater than 0 to 5 percent of wells exceeded the 0.013 ug/L MCL |
| Mercury 2 µg/L MCL | 0% | 2,238 | No wells exceeded the 2 ug/L MCL |
| Iron (secondary standard) 0.3 mg/L standard | 55.8% | 2,238 | Greater than 40 to 60 percent of the wells exceeded the 0.3 mg/L standard |
| Manganese (secondary standard) 0.05 mg/L standard | 60.1% | 2,238 | Greater than 60 to 80 percent of the wells exceeded the 0.05 mg/L standard |
| pH | 36.3% | 2,238 | Greater than 20 to 40 percent of wells were outside the optimum range |
"% of wells" is the share that exceeded the standard. For bacteria it is the share where bacteria were present; for pH it is the share outside the optimum range. Values are shown exactly as published by NJDEP. Uranium testing is not required in this county under the PWTA. Mercury testing is part of the PWTA test in this county.
What these results mean
- Total coliform bacteria
- Coliform bacteria are an indicator organism: their presence suggests surface water or soil may be getting into the well. A positive result usually leads to disinfecting the well, checking the well cap and casing, and retesting.
- Fecal coliform / E. coli
- Fecal coliform or E. coli indicates contamination from human or animal waste (for example a nearby septic system). This is an immediate health concern; the water should not be used for drinking without treatment until the problem is fixed and a retest is clean.
- Nitrate
- Nitrate commonly comes from fertilizer, septic systems or animal waste. High nitrate is a particular risk for infants.
- Arsenic
- Arsenic in New Jersey wells is usually naturally occurring in certain bedrock. It has no taste or smell, so only a lab test reveals it. Long-term exposure is linked to health effects; treatment systems are available.
- Gross alpha (radioactivity screen)
- Gross alpha is a screening test for naturally occurring radioactive elements such as radium and uranium in rock. A high result usually leads to follow-up testing for the specific elements.
- Uranium
- Uranium is a naturally occurring metal found in some bedrock. Under the PWTA it is required only in certain counties.
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- VOCs are man-made chemicals such as fuel components and industrial solvents. Detections often trace back to spills, leaking tanks or old industrial sites.
- Synthetic organic compounds (SOCs)
- The PWTA's SOC group covers 1,2,3-trichloropropane, ethylene dibromide (EDB) and DBCP, chemicals historically linked to pesticides and soil fumigants.
- PFAS (any of PFOA, PFOS, PFNA)
- PFAS are long-lasting man-made chemicals. PFOA, PFOS and PFNA were added to the PWTA on December 1, 2021, so far fewer wells have been tested for them than for older parameters.
- Mercury
- Under the PWTA, mercury testing is required only in certain (mainly southern) counties.
- Iron (secondary standard)
- Secondary standards relate mainly to taste, odor and staining rather than direct health effects. High iron causes rusty stains and metallic taste and is commonly treated with filtration.
- Manganese (secondary standard)
- High manganese causes black/brown staining and taste issues. Like iron, it is commonly treated with filtration.
- pH
- pH measures how acidic the water is. Water outside the optimum range, especially acidic (low-pH) water, can corrode plumbing and dissolve metals such as lead and copper; it is often treated with a neutralizer.
Getting a PWTA test in Middle Township
You only need to contact one certified lab: it collects the sample (or sends an authorized representative) and subcontracts any tests it is not certified for. Any NJ-certified lab may serve Middle Township, wherever it is based. These sampling-certified labs are based in or near Cape May County, according to NJDEP DataMiner, retrieved Oct 21, 2026. Confirm current certification before booking.
Based in Cape May County
- Cape Environmental Testing Laboratory, Middle Twp (Cape May Co.) · 609-463-0077
Based in neighboring counties
- Vineland Environmental Laboratories LLC, Vineland City (Cumberland Co.) · 856-692-6800
Published prices, where labs list them: labs & prices.
Other Cape May County towns
Sources
- NJDEP, Private Well Testing Act Summary Results by Municipality for New Jersey (retrieved 2026-10-21).
- NJDEP, Private Well Testing Act program page.
- NJDEP DataMiner, Laboratories Certified for PWTA Sample Collection (retrieved Oct 21, 2026).