Summary of Treatment Options for Homeowners

What are the two different categories of water treatment systems?

The two different categories of water treatment systems are Point of Use (POU) and Point of Entry (POE).

Point of Use System:

• used to treat a specific faucet in the household, such as the kitchen tap
• used to treat drinking and cooking water
• may last longer and are less expensive because they are treating much less water

Point of Entry System:

• a whole house water treatment system that treats all water coming into the household, including showers and laundry
• tend to be more expensive and need more maintenance
• are generally considered more health protective because they treat all the water entering the home

What are the different types of water treatment systems and what contaminants can they remove?

Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) System

• consists of a special coconut shell activated carbon filter that absorbs organic contaminants
• commonly used to help with taste and odor issues in drinking water
• can treat a variety of different contaminants, but generally remove chlorine and its byproducts
• cannot be cleaned to remove the contaminants; therefore, they need to be replaced
• can become contaminated with bacteria, if not replaced according to the manufacturer’s guidance
• Always refer to the manufacturer’s website to make sure you know what contaminants are being removed by this filter type

Reverse Osmosis (RO) System

• pushes water through a semi-permeable membrane that allows the water to pass through but prevents the contaminants from passing through
• has pre and post filters
• can remove some forms of arsenic, lead, organic chemicals, fluoride, nitrates, sulfates, and an array of other various contaminants
• can also remove a lot of “good” minerals that the water contains
• wastes about 4-10 gallons of water per gallon of treated water
• If the water is very hard, that can impact the efficiency of the system. Generally, a water softener would be recommended prior to the RO. By doing so, this would extend the life and efficiency of the treatment system.

Ion Exchange

The term “ion exchange” refers to a process when one or more undesirable ions are exchanged with more desirable ions that have a similar charge. There are two different types of ion exchange systems. Both of these types of systems can remove a variety of contaminants and need to be regularly maintained for proper functionality.

• Cation exchange (positively charged ions):
  • most commonly known as a water softener
  • consists of a resin that enables the saturation of sodium or potassium ions
• Anion exchange (negatively charged ions):
  • consists of a resin that enables sulfate to be replaced with chloride ions

What are my options for treating arsenic in my well water?

Please visit the our arsenic water treatment page for more detailed information.

What are my options for treating PFAS in my well water?

Please visit the our DEP PFAS in Drinking Water page for more detailed information. Although this video has some state specific information, the Washington State Department of Health has a helpful video about how to select a point-of-use water filter or bottled water.

What are my options for treating bacteria?

If your well water has bacterial contamination, there are a few treatment options available. Disinfection ensures that the level of pathogens present in the water are reduced to safe levels.

Shock Chlorination

The best approach is to find the bacterial source ⇒ eliminate it (if possible) ⇒ disinfect it to remove the existing bacteria. A common phrase associated with pool maintenance is “shocking the pool”. This can also apply to your well water. Shock chlorination involves pouring a chlorine solution down the well. The NJDEP recommends that this be performed by a private well professional, not the homeowner themselves.  Shock chlorination should be done when there is suspected well water bacterial contamination. This should done:

• after any well maintenance has been completed
• when the well cap has been removed
• after the initial installation of the well
• if there is suspected contamination due to animal activity

The effectiveness of this process depends on the concentration of the disinfectant, pH of the water, and the contact time between the disinfectant and the water. The water should be tested about two weeks after the shocking process to ensure that the water is still bacteria-free; giving the bacteria a chance to grow back to detectable levels if there is still a source remaining. For more information about shocking your well, please refer to the NJDEP Guidance for Disinfection of a Private Domestic Well fact sheet or the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Directions for Disinfecting a Home Well in New Jersey fact sheet and contact your well maintenance professional.

Ultra-Violet Radiation

An Ultra-Violet (UV) light is used to treat bacterial contamination. This works by inactivating microorganisms with a light at a specific wavelength that alters the DNA, which prevents the microorganisms from reproducing. This can be used as a continuous disinfection option; however, it is important to determine what the source of the contamination is. This is more commonly seen in public water systems, rather than private well systems.

How important is it to perform and keep up with maintenance on my water treatment system?

Very important! A poorly maintained water treatment system cannot effectively remove contaminants and could potentially cause other water quality issues. It is essential to follow the manufacturer’s recommendation for proper maintenance. It is also recommended to periodically sample to ensure that the treatment system is still working properly.

What resources are available to me to make sure I’m getting the proper treatment system to fit my needs?

Unfortunately, there will be some companies that will try to upsell you on a water treatment system that you may not need. However, there are steps you can take to make sure you are buying the proper treatment system to fit your specific water needs. If the water treatment company provides the water testing, especially if it’s free, be sure to ask for the actual water test results (number or level). You can compare those results to the NJ drinking water standards or federal drinking water standards. If you are still unsure, you can get your water tested by an independent NJDEP certified laboratory. Please refer to the table above for treatment systems for different contaminants and the NSF website for information on certified products.

Is a pitcher, tap, or refrigerator filter sufficient for treating my water?

While these types of filters are effective at treating your water for taste and odor, they cannot remove every contaminant from the water. The filters provided by different manufacturers treat for different compounds to different degrees. Please refer to the manufacture’s website to ensure you know what contaminants are removed by the filter type. It is important to follow the manufacturer’s guidance on how frequently to change the filters because they can become a source of bacterial contamination, if not changed frequently.

Are there financing options available for water treatment?

Generally, homeowners are responsible for installation and maintenance costs that are incurred concerning their potable well water. However, there are two state programs that may be available to homeowners for financial assistance if specific eligibility requirements are met.

The Spill Compensation Fund administered by Environmental Claims Administration within the Department offers help to innocent parties suffering from direct or indirect damages resulting from the human-caused discharge of a hazardous substance. There are specific eligibility requirements and guidelines for filing claims with the Spill Compensation Fund. For more information, please see the Processing of Damage Claims Pursuant to the Spill Compensation and Control Act rules, N.J.A.C. 7:1J  for eligibility requirements or contact the NJDEP-Environmental Claims Administration at 609-984-2076 or visit its Spill Compensation Fund website. You may write to the ECA: NJDEP-ECA/Spill Fund, Mail Code 401-06J, P.O. Box 420, 401 E. State Street, Trenton, N.J. 08625-0420.

The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) has a Potable Water Loan Program that is available to owners of single family residences whose source of potable water exceeds the State of New Jersey’s Primary Drinking Water Standards. In addition, the loan program covers sodium, chloride, iron, and manganese although these contaminants do not have Primary Drinking Water Standards. For further information, please contact the NJHMFA Hotline at 1-800-NJHOUSE (1-800-654-6873) or they may be reached at: P.O. Box 18550, 637 South Clinton Avenue, Trenton, N.J. 08650-2085 or through their NJHFMA Potable Water Loan Program website. For more information about this program, please see this Potable Water Loan Program fact sheet.

The Water Well Trust (WWT) is a 501(c)3 organization created by the Water Systems Council to provide a clean water supply to American families living without access. The Water Well Trust and its partners provide funding for wells and/or septic systems for low‐income families nationwide that need safe drinking water or wastewater systems. They serve Americans living primarily in rural, unincorporated areas or minority communities that may be isolated and difficult to reach. They assist low‐income families that do not have access to public water supplies or sewer, and those who live in areas where the extension of public water supplies to serve them doesn’t make economic sense…for them, for the public water supply owners, for federal, state or local funding sources. For more information about their program, please visit the Water Well Trust website.

The US Department of Agriculture provides loans to very-low-income homeowners to repair, improve or modernize their homes or grants to elderly very-low-income homeowners to remove health and safety hazards. For eligibility and more details about this program, please refer to the US Department of Agriculture website or the Single Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants fact sheet. 

The Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project (SERCAP)’s Individual Household Well & Septic Loan products, which are underwritten by USDA Rural Development, provide low-interest (1%) loans to eligible Low-to-Moderate Income (LMI) homeowners for the repair or replacement of an individual household well or septic system. Please visit the SERCAP website for more information.