Lead

Lead is frequently featured in the news, both nationally and in New Jersey. It’s a toxic substance that causes neurological damage, especially to young children. Lead in drinking water is one source of exposure. 

As indicated by recent drinking water test results from schools and homes in New Jersey and across the country (i.e., the widely publicized crisis in Flint, Michigan), lead in drinking water is not uncommon, especially in older buildings.

To explain why this is happening—and to position this crisis within a broader context that considers other water infrastructure needs—the Jersey Water Works Steering Committee issued a statement in 2019. In 2018, it convened the JWW Lead in Drinking Water Task Force, which issued a practical, broadly supported action agenda to eliminate the risk of lead in drinking water throughout New Jersey.