Groundwater in Burlington County contains radon, chloride, and PFOA at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Radon and chloride are the most concerning contaminants detected in tested wells in this county.
Radon forms naturally as uranium decays in the rock beneath Burlington County. Chloride enters groundwater from road salt applied to highways and from saltwater seeping inland near the coast. PFOA is an industrial chemical that was used in manufacturing and persists in the environment for decades.
Groundwater in this county is low in sodium and sulfate, reflecting the sandy and gravelly composition of the Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain aquifer system here. These minerals do not concentrate heavily because water moves fairly quickly through the loose sand and gravel layers rather than dissolving minerals from dense rock. Most wells in Burlington County show similarly low mineral content in these categories.
Wells in Burlington County commonly contain PFOA, PFOS, radon, and chloride at levels that exceed EPA health standards. PFOA and PFOS are industrial chemicals that can harm the liver, thyroid, and immune system with long-term exposure. Radon is a radioactive gas that increases lung cancer risk when breathed in from water over many years. Chloride at elevated levels poses risks to people with heart disease or high blood pressure.
The mineral content in county wells is relatively low for sodium and sulfate, so you are unlikely to experience staining, scale buildup, or taste problems from hard water. Your appliances should not be significantly affected by mineral deposits. Water quality concerns in this county center on the chemical contaminants rather than mineral hardness.
We recommend testing your well with a comprehensive metals and minerals panel to find out what is actually in your water, since every well is different and yours may have higher or lower levels than what is common countywide. Testing is the only way to know what treatment your water needs. A comprehensive panel typically costs $200 to $400. Activated carbon filters and radon aeration systems can address these concerns once you know your results.
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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron | 913 | 41% | High | High | |
| Manganese | 889 | 39% | High | High | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 178 | 14% | High | Moderate | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 176 | 12% | High | Moderate | |
| Nitrate | 649 | 2% | High | Low | |
| Arsenic | 302 | 2% | High | Low | |
| Chloride | 1055 | 2% | High | Low | |
| Lead | 564 | 1% | High | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 175 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Nitrite | 349 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Fluoride | 809 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Uranium | 42 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Sulfate | 914 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Radon | 24 | 0% | Moderate | Low ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 176 | 0% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 179 | 0% | High | Safe | |
| E. coli | 7* | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 917 | — | High | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 176 | — | High | Low | |
| pH | 949 | — | High | Low | |
| Sodium | 888 | — | High | Low | |
| Total Coliform | 7* | 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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