Investigation of Elevated Sodium and Chloride in Well Water, Village of Columbia, Knowlton Township, Warren County, New Jersey
Date
2022
Date Removed
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Water Resources Management
Abstract
An investigation of elevated sodium and chloride concentrations in well water was conducted in the Village of Columbia, Knowlton Township, Warren County, New Jersey. Water testing was made available at
no cost to residents and 82 private wells throughout the Township were sampled and tested for sodium and
chloride in November 2015. Of these wells, 25 were also tested for additional water quality parameters to
help categorize water in different aquifers and different parts of the Township. A follow-up well water
sampling event for chloride and lead was conducted in May 2016 at no cost for residents. A continuous water
quality monitor was placed within one of the wells with the highest concentrations to measure water quality
over a 3.7-year timeframe. The karst geology was confirmed by review of available well records and borehole
geophysics conducted in four wells. Surface geophysics, including resistivity and electrical conductivity, were
conducted to help characterize water quality upgradient and downgradient of the accessible Township Storage
Area. Elevated concentrations of sodium and chloride, often above New Jersey Secondary Maximum Contaminate Levels (SMCL), in private wells in the Village of Columbia, was confirmed.
Description
New Jersey Geological and Water Survey Technical Memorandum No. 21-1.
Keywords
New Jersey, Well water, Water - Sampling, New Jersey - Warren County - Knowlton Township - Village of Columbia