Mayor Ras J. Baraka introduced to the Newark Municipal Council an ordinance today for First Reading that will require and enable the city to replace every lead service line in Newark, at no cost to residents. Once this ordinance is passed, Newark will have become the first major city in the United States to require a total replacement of all of its lead service lines.
This ordinance will significantly accelerate lead service line replacement. Property owners can sign up for the Lead Service Line Replacement program, and the work will be accomplished by City contractors at no expense to them. They also have the option of replacing the line at their own expense within 90 days of the ordinance’s effective date. When a property owner can’t be found or fails to sign up for the program, the City will now have the power to take all necessary steps to come on the property, without signed permission, to replace the lead service line.
“We need to get more property owners to sign up for Lead Service Line Replacement Program at no cost. Newark is a city of renters and too often landlords either can’t be found or show a lack of interest in this important health initiative. This ordinance will enable the City to replace all lead service lines and to do so quickly,” Mayor Baraka said.
“While the State is considering similar legislation, we didn’t want to wait for the state’s legislative process. It is important that this work be completed quickly, and by passing this local ordinance, Newark will get shovels in the ground faster,” said City of Newark Corporation Counsel Kenyatta Stewart.
Property owners who can demonstrate that lead service line replacement has already been accomplished prior to this ordinance, or that their property has no lead service line, are excluded from this ordinance.
The City of Newark announced today that more than $300,000 has been raised to date for an online fund opened in partnership with the United Way of Essex West Hudson to address community needs during Newark’s water challenge. To date, corporate support has been received from AT&T, Genova Burns, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Onyx Equities LLC, Panasonic, Paramount, Provident Bank, Prudential Financial, the PSEG Foundation, the TD Charitable Foundation, United Airlines, RWJ Barnabas Health, and Wells Fargo.Proof of Lead Service Line replacement will also be required under the ordinance for Certificates of Occupancy, Code Compliance, and Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector Certificates.
