Buying a Home in Cherry Hill? Here’s What NJ Water Testing Law Requires — and What It Doesn’t Cover.
Cherry Hill is predominantly a municipal water community, with most homes connected to the Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority’s Delaware River supply. For most Cherry Hill buyers, New Jersey’s Private Well Testing Act (PWTA) doesn’t directly govern the transaction — the law applies to private wells, not municipal connections. But that doesn’t mean water quality is off the table as a due diligence item. For Cherry Hill’s older homes, voluntary testing addresses concerns the utility’s annual report doesn’t capture at the individual property level. And for any property in Camden County with a private well, the PWTA applies in full. Our professional water testing services serve buyers and sellers throughout Cherry Hill and Camden County.
What the Private Well Testing Act Requires
The PWTA has required well water testing before residential real estate closings since 2002. Any property whose drinking water comes from a private well must be tested before the sale can close — both parties receive and review results, and the seller is generally responsible for arranging and paying for testing. Results must be disclosed regardless of what they show. The law doesn’t require remediation when contaminants are found above action levels, but it requires that buyers have complete information before the transaction proceeds.
The PWTA establishes a minimum contaminant panel. In Camden County, NJDEP designates county-specific parameters that reflect local water quality concerns. Buyers of any Cherry Hill-area property with a private well should confirm their panel includes all applicable county-specific parameters.
What Gets Tested Under the PWTA
- Bacteria and total coliform — the fundamental water safety indicator
- Nitrates and nitrites — relevant near agricultural areas and older septic systems in Camden County’s less-developed zones
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) — chemical contamination indicators
- Arsenic, lead, and other inorganic contaminants
- pH, gross alpha radioactivity, iron, and manganese
- County-specific NJDEP-designated parameters for Camden County
Municipal Water vs. Private Wells in Cherry Hill
| Water Source | Testing Requirement | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Cherry Hill municipal water (CCMUA) | Not required by law | Recommended for older homes — lead and PFAS concerns |
| Private well in Camden County | Required by NJ law before closing | Test; confirm all Camden County-specific parameters are included |
| Property with unclear water source | Confirm before closing; may be required | Determine source early in the transaction |
Why Cherry Hill Municipal Water Buyers Should Consider Voluntary Testing
The CCMUA’s annual water quality report reflects conditions at the treatment plant — not at the faucet in a specific Cherry Hill home. Homes built before 1986 commonly have lead solder at interior pipe joints, and the Delaware River supply arrives at those joints lead-free before potentially picking up dissolved lead on the way to the tap. PFAS from agricultural and industrial inputs to the Delaware River watershed is an emerging concern for South Jersey municipal water customers. Chloramine disinfection byproducts are present in every CCMUA customer’s supply.
For Cherry Hill buyers purchasing older ranch homes, split-levels, and colonials from the 1960s through the 1980s — the neighborhoods that define much of Cherry Hill’s residential character — voluntary pre-closing water testing is a concrete and actionable due diligence step that the PWTA simply doesn’t require but informed buyers have good reason to take. Our Cherry Hill water testing page covers local concerns in more detail. Our full New Jersey service area covers communities statewide.
Frequently Asked Questions — Water Testing Laws for Home Buyers in Cherry Hill, NJ
Is water testing legally required when buying a home in Cherry Hill?
Not for most Cherry Hill homes, which are on the CCMUA municipal supply. The PWTA applies only to homes with private wells. For any property in Camden County with a private well, the PWTA applies fully and testing is required before closing. For municipal water homes, testing is not required but is recommended for older properties.
Are private wells common in Cherry Hill?
Less common than in more rural parts of New Jersey, but they do exist in portions of Cherry Hill and the surrounding Camden County area. Buyers and their agents should confirm the water source from the seller’s disclosure documents early in the transaction rather than assuming municipal supply.
What makes voluntary testing worthwhile for Cherry Hill municipal water buyers?
Older Cherry Hill homes frequently have lead solder at interior pipe joints — a property-specific concern the utility’s annual report doesn’t address. PFAS in the Delaware River watershed and chloramine disinfection byproducts in the treated supply are real but system-level concerns. A pre-closing tap test gives buyers property-specific data before transfer.
Who pays for PWTA testing?
The seller is generally responsible, though costs can be negotiated. Disclosure of results to both parties before closing is required regardless of cost allocation.
How early should testing be scheduled?
As early as possible — ideally at the time of the home inspection. Results return within one to two weeks. Build adequate time into the transaction timeline to allow for follow-up if needed.
Get Cherry Hill Water Testing Arranged Before Closing
Whether you need PWTA-compliant well water testing for a Camden County property or voluntary tap testing for an older Cherry Hill home on municipal supply — we can help. We serve Cherry Hill and all of Camden County. Call us at (732) 357-1988 or reach out online.
