TARGETED ARSENIC OUTREACH OF NEW JERSEY PRIVATE WELLS WITH PASSING LEVELS UNDER PREVIOUS MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVEL AND THE NEW JERSEY PRIVATE WELL TESTING ACT (PWTA)

Arsenic in New Jersey ground water has mainly geologic origins, particularly in the Piedmont region with the highest percentage of wells with arsenic levels above the New Jersey standard. The New Jersey Private Well Testing Act (PWTA) requires testing of private well water for arsenic and other contaminants at real estate transfer and for rental properties with a private well every five years. When the PWTA became effective in 2002, the drinking water standard for arsenic was 50 micrograms per liter (µg/L) and in 2006, New Jersey’s arsenic standard was lowered to 5 µg/L. Over 1,400 homes tested under the PWTA between 2002 and 2006 were identified with an arsenic result that passed for the standard at the time but would fail under the new and more protective standard. Through a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and in Partnership with Columbia University, letters were mailed to the targeted residents with test results in this range offering a free arsenic test. Over 400 test kits were requested. As expected, a large percentage failed for arsenic under New Jersey’s 5 µg/L standard; of those homes who failed , a low percentage of them reported having arsenic treatment installed in their house. Surprisingly, 17% of participants in the study indicated that they did not know if they had water treatment for arsenic. This study has further demonstrated the need for public health outreach to private well water users, especially after drinking water standards are changed. This outreach effort also highlights the need for increased education on water treatment processes and maintenance of treatment systems.