Initial test results on August 9, 2019 have shown that a small sample of PUR® water filters provided to the City of Newark were not removing lead to the low levels expected by city, state and federal officials. At this time, the City has been made aware of two residences where PUR® water filters are not working as expected. Out of caution, the City is notifying residents that three filters may not be working as expected as it continues to test filters and filtered water to assess why the water filters in those two homes were not working as expected.
Families in the Pequannock service area with lead services lines who have received filters can pick up water at the following locations:
-The City of Newark Department of Health and Wellness
110 William Street
-Bo Porter Sports Complex
378 Lyons Avenue
-Boylan Street Recreation Center
916 South Orange Avenue
-Vince Lombardi Center
201 Bloomfield Avenue
Bottled water will be available while the City continue to conduct extensive testing and sample and analyze the data. The City of Newark will keep residents informed of any further updates and progress.
Until this additional testing is completed, residents in the Pequannock area who have lead services lines are advised to run their water for five minutes before filtering for maximum protection. Initial testing results show that filters are effective in locations that ran their water. The City strongly encourages residents to run their water – which includes showering, flushing toilets and washing dishes – in order to help coat the pipes and allow the new corrosion control treatment to continue optimizing.
Further decisions will be made about the best course of action as soon as the City receives additional testing results back. The City is working closely with the Governor’s office, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and PUR® officials.
“If you live in the Pequannock area, have lead service lines and received a filter, the City of Newark encourages you to take one small step to ensure your filter is working effectively. Before drinking from your tap water, run the water for five minutes before filtering to maximize your filter’s effectiveness,” said Kareem Adeem, Acting Director of the Newark Department of Water & Sewer Utilities. “We encourage residents to take advantage of all the important resources the City of Newark is offering, including free blood testing for children under 6, free water testing and our Lead Service Line Replacement Program.”
As has been previously reported, water testing in Newark indicated elevated levels of lead in single and multi-family homes with decades-old lead service lines or plumbing containing lead. It is the last stretch of lead service lines, on private property between the street and approximately 15,000 homes, that is changing the makeup of the water.
Since October 2018, the City of Newark has taken steps to immediately address elevated levels of lead in the water, including the following:
- Distributed over 38,000 lead-safe water filters and cartridges to impacted homeowners free-of-charge through distribution centers located throughout the city and door-to-door canvassing. Distribution efforts continue throughout the City;
- Offered and continuing to offer free water testing to impacted homeowners;
- Offered and continuing to offer free blood testing to children under the age of 6;
- Developed and rolled out a groundbreaking program to replace residential lead service lines with State of New Jersey’s support, replacing over 700 lead service lines since March; and
- As of May 7, 2019, installed and began operating a new temporary corrosion control treatment system to replace the one that is no longer effective. Experts expect to see a reduction in lead levels by the end of the year.
There are additional steps residents can take to reduce the risks of lead in water:
- Use filtered cold water or bottled water for cooking and preparing baby formula, as well as for consumption by pregnant women. The New Jersey Department of Health recommends that bottled water be used for infants who are being fed with formula and children under 6 years old until families who have lead service lines and plumbing that contains lead receive lead-safe water filters. It is important for residents to remember to replace their cartridge every three months or when the indicator light comes on. The City of Newark is distributing lead-safe water filters and cartridges to impacted homeowners, free-of-charge.
- Do not boil water to remove lead. Boiling water will not reduce lead.
- Look for alternative drinking water sources or bottled water. You may want to consider purchasing bottled water or picking up a free lead-safe water filter and replacement cartridges at any of the seven locations listed at www.NewarkLeadServiceLine.com.
- Test your water for lead at no cost. Call the Department of Water and Sewer Utilities at (973) 773-6303 to find out how to get your water tested for lead.
- Get your child’s blood tested. Contact the Department of Health and Community Wellness at (973) 733-5323 or your healthcare provider to find out how you can get your child tested for lead if you are concerned about lead exposure.
- Identify and replace plumbing fixtures and lead services lines containing lead. Register online to replace your residential lead service lines at https://www.NewarkLeadServiceLine.com/Register. Replacement costs will not exceed $1,000, pending available funding.
Call the Department of Water and Sewer Utilities at 973-733-6303 or visit www.NewarkLeadServiceLine.com to find out how to get your water tested for lead, get your child’s blood tested, register for Lead Service Line Replacement, or for more information on steps the Department of Water and Sewer is taking to address the lead action level exceedance. For more information on reducing lead exposure around your home/building and the health effects of lead, visit the EPA’s website at www.epa.gov/lead or contact your health care provider.
