Groundwater in Cape May County contains manganese, iron, chloride, sulfate, fluoride, and nitrate. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards, so well owners should test their water.
These contaminants come from the sandy and gravel layers that make up the county's underground geology. Chloride enters from road salt and coastal saltwater intrusion. Iron and manganese occur naturally as water moves through the sandy rocks underground. Nitrate comes from fertilizers and septic systems in residential and agricultural areas.
Groundwater in Cape May County is soft with moderate iron and moderate sodium as the main mineral features. Iron concentrations reflect the sandy aquifer rock, which releases iron as water flows through it. Sodium is elevated due to coastal location and saltwater influence on the groundwater system. These mineral characteristics are common across many wells throughout the county.
Cape May County wells commonly contain manganese, chloride, iron, sulfate, fluoride, and nitrate at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Manganese can harm brain development in children and cause neurological problems in adults. Chloride and sulfate at high levels affect people with heart disease, high blood pressure, or kidney problems. Nitrate is especially dangerous for infants and can cause serious illness. Iron and fluoride also pose health risks when levels are too high.
County wells tend to have moderate iron levels that can create staining on fixtures, laundry, and skin. You might notice a metallic or bitter taste in your water. Iron deposits can build up in pipes and damage appliances over time. The water in this county is relatively soft, so scale buildup is less of a concern than in harder-water areas.
Because six different contaminants exceed health standards in this county, we recommend a comprehensive panel that tests for metals, minerals, and nitrate. Your well is unique and could have higher or lower levels than the county average. Testing is the only way to find out what's actually in your water so you can treat it properly. Costs for a comprehensive panel run between $200 and $400, and treatment options include filtration systems and aeration depending on what you find.
Not sure if your well is affected? Get certified results in 5–7 days.
Test Your Well Water with Tap Score →| Contaminant | Samples ⓘ | % Above MCL ⓘ | Distribution ⓘ | Confidence ⓘ | Risk ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manganese | 344 | 33% | High | High | |
| Iron | 357 | 32% | High | High | |
| Chloride | 3051 | 14% | High | Moderate | |
| Nitrate | 195 | 2% | High | Low | |
| Sulfate | 375 | 2% | High | Low | |
| Fluoride | 316 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Nitrite | 153 | 0% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 79 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Radon | 10 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 13 | 0% | Low | Low | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 79 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Lead | 136 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Arsenic | 128 | 0% | High | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 79 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 79 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 79 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 79 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Hardness | 368 | — | High | Low | |
| Total Coliform | 2* | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 452 | — | High | Low | |
| pH | 861 | — | High | Low | |
| E. coli | 2* | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ |
MCL = Maximum Contaminant Level (EPA limit for public water; used as benchmark for private wells). Distribution shows % of sampled wells in each concentration band. Methodology.
* Microbial contaminants (E. coli, coliform) reflect only samples from the last 10 years.
Data shows potential risk — a certified test confirms whether your water is affected.
Order a Tap Score Test →Population-level CDC data. Not individual risk prediction.
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