privatewelldata / States / New Jersey / Nitrate
Nitrate in well water in New Jersey
4% of 3,915 sampled wells in New Jersey had nitrate above the EPA limit of 10 mg/L (as nitrogen) (latest result per well, 20 counties, samples 1906–2026). The highest county share was Salem County: 20% of 181 wells. Data updated 2026-10-19.
of sampled wells above 10 mg/L (as nitrogen)
wells with a result
counties with data
counties where 1 in 4+ wells were above
Nitrate in wells most often comes from fertilizer, manure and septic systems, so shallow wells near fields or septic fields are more exposed, and levels can change with the seasons. Only a lab test shows it. Federal limits apply to public water systems; a private well is the owner's responsibility to test (EPA).
% of sampled wells above the EPA limit (latest result per well; counties with 10+ wells). Source: USGS/EPA Water Quality Portal, 2026-10-19 · privatewelldata.com
Nitrate by county in New Jersey
| County | Above 10 mg/L (as nitrogen) | Median | 90th pct. | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem County | 20% of 181 | 0.113 mg/L as N | 17.4 | 1950–2023 |
| Cumberland County | 19% of 175 | 3.3 mg/L as N | 15.3 | 1953–2026 |
| Mercer County | 9% of 147 | 2 mg/L as N | 8.9 | 1925–2022 |
| Gloucester County | 5% of 483 | 0.565 mg/L as N | 7.11 | 1950–2026 |
| Middlesex County | 4% of 289 | 0.181 mg/L as N | 6.1 | 1933–2022 |
| Warren County | 4% of 75 | 1.1 mg/L as N | 6.235 | 1968–2022 |
| Atlantic County | 4% of 301 | 0.136 mg/L as N | 5 | 1932–2026 |
| Cape May County | 2% of 122 | 0.052 mg/L as N | 3.501 | 1926–2023 |
| Somerset County | 2% of 44 | 1.801 mg/L as N | 4.7 | 1954–2021 |
| Camden County | 2% of 286 | 0.159 mg/L as N | 4.46 | 1906–2023 |
| Ocean County | 2% of 453 | 0.07 mg/L as N | 2.5 | 1945–2023 |
| Bergen County | 1% of 144 | 2.265 mg/L as N | 4.834 | 1959–2022 |
| Burlington County | 1% of 304 | 0.023 mg/L as N | 4.247 | 1943–2023 |
| Sussex County | 1% of 130 | 0.65 mg/L as N | 3.78 | 1957–2022 |
| Monmouth County | 1% of 164 | 0 mg/L as N | 0.41 | 1953–2021 |
| Morris County | 0% of 381 | 0.461 mg/L as N | 2.575 | 1958–2022 |
| Hunterdon County | 0% of 130 | 1.3 mg/L as N | 4.07 | 1968–2026 |
| Passaic County | 0% of 43 | 0.836 mg/L as N | 3.84 | 1969–2022 |
| Essex County | 0% of 36 | 1.25 mg/L as N | 3.163 | 1925–2022 |
| Union County | 0% of 27 | 2 mg/L as N | 4.292 | 1952–2022 |
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Download this table (CSV) · public-domain source data: Water Quality Portal (USGS, EPA, NWQMC). How we calculate these numbers.
How New Jersey compares
Share of sampled wells above the EPA nitrate limit in each state we cover (states with 100+ wells).
| # | State | Above 10 mg/L (as nitrogen) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 10% of 16,344 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | 8% of 6,478 |
| 3 | Minnesota | 6% of 7,259 |
| 4 | North Carolina | 5% of 1,964 |
| 5 | New York | 5% of 6,236 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | 4% of 2,556 |
| 7 | New Jersey | 4% of 3,915 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | 4% of 3,666 |
| 9 | Virginia | 3% of 1,394 |
| 10 | Maine | 2% of 726 |
| 11 | Michigan | 2% of 1,970 |
| 12 | Ohio | 1% of 1,239 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | 0% of 1,685 |
Where to test: official lab list for New Jersey
About this data
- Each well counts once, using its latest nitrate result in the Water Quality Portal (siteType = Well), downloaded 2026-10-19.
- Results reported as "not detected" count as below the limit. Results far outside the plausible range are withheld for review, not shown.
- Sampled wells include monitoring and research wells, not only household wells, and are not a random sample, so the share is a guide to local risk, not a rate for all homes.
- The limit is the EPA maximum contaminant level for public water systems (EPA).
Questions
Is nitrate common in New Jersey well water?
In our data, 158 of 3,915 sampled wells in New Jersey (4%) had a latest nitrate result above the EPA limit of 10 mg/L (as nitrogen), across 20 counties. That ranks New Jersey 7 of 13 states we cover for this share.
Which New Jersey counties have the most wells above the nitrate limit?
Among counties with at least 10 sampled wells: Salem County (20%, 37 of 181 wells); Cumberland County (19%, 33 of 175 wells); Mercer County (9%, 13 of 147 wells).
Does this tell me whether my well is safe?
No. These are past results from wells sampled by USGS, EPA and state programs, including monitoring wells, and levels differ from well to well. The only way to know your water is to test your own well at a certified lab.
How do I test my well for nitrate in New Jersey?
Order a nitrate test from a lab on New Jersey's official certified-lab list (linked on this page) and ask for its bottles and sampling instructions. Our test helper suggests what else to test for at the same time.
What should I do if my nitrate result is above 10 mg/L (as nitrogen)?
Retest to confirm, use another water source for drinking and cooking while you sort it out, and look at certified treatment options. Our guide walks through each step with sources.