We Applaud Essex County for Funding to Replace Newark’s Lead Pipes

Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo announced today that the county will guarantee a bond issue of $120 million for the City of Newark to replace old lead-lined water pipes as a solution to the city’s drinking water crisis, according to New Jersey Globe. Governor Murphy and Newark Mayor Ras Barak will join DiVencenzo at an announcement today in Newark.

“The biggest problem Newark has is getting to replace their outdated water lines. Joe DiVencenzo’s announcement is the first real step in making sure that happens. What he did is important, especially for the people in Newark going through this nightmare. The lead crisis going on in Newark is a serious problem and it is critical that their outdated water systems are fixed. What is happening in Newark is a public health emergency putting people at high risk. We thank Essex County for moving forward on fixing the city’s lead problems,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “Lead problems are not just happening in Newark, they are happening in across the state. That is why the state and the DEP need to step up. They need to come up with a funding source and work with the EPA in getting federal funding too.”

The EPA tested and found high levels of lead with filters in two residences in Newark. The agency strongly encouraged the city of Newark to take immediate action. The city is working to dig up old lead service lines and they have introduced a new water treatment method to try and stop lead from leaching off the pipes.

“It’s good that Newark is getting funding for their lead crisis, but this should not be used to say things are okay. We have a long way to go. More importantly, we need to get to the bottom of this scandal and malfeasance. The scandal and failure of the Newark Watershed Corporation to protect and clean up the Pequannock Reservoir is a major problem. The water treatment plant should have been updated and now lead is leaching out. Newark was ordered to close their open air reservoirs and add buffer agents in 1992 and they are just starting to do it now. The failure to do so resulted in not being able to add orthophosphates to the water to prevent other chemicals that cause lead from leaching out of pipes.,” said Tittel. We continue the investigation so that we can have transparency, figure our why this happened, and hold people accountable.”

Many cities in New Jersey have serious lead problems in the their drinking water. Lead levels in Newark’s water supply tested at 52 parts per billion between January 1 and June 30 of 2019. These are the highest levels ever recorded in Newark, an increase from 48 parts per billion during the last 6 months of 2018. Lead has also been found in Paterson, Camden, and Morristown.

“DEP need to do its job and make sure the people of New Jersey have clean drinking water. Newark is an example of the ongoing lead crisis we have in New Jersey. We have incidences of lead happening across the state in areas like Paterson, Camden, Morristown, and in 30 towns in Bergen County. Children are particularly vulnerable to brain damage and permanent developmental problems from even small amounts of lead. We need a minimum of $2.3 to 8 billion statewide to fix our lead problem. We cannot settle for smaller Poland Spring measures that do not do enough to reduce these dangerously high lead levels. We need to protect our most precious resource, which is our children,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.