Public health

Lead crisis in Newark leads to distribution of bottled water…

…after filters fail to safeguard homes with old pipes

Responding to reports that filters are not protecting residents from elevated lead levels in their drinking water, Newark officials on Sunday said they will distribute bottled water to households with old lead pipes after federal officials urged the city to take action “as soon as possible.”

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued its recommendation to Newark in a letter Friday, in the wake of recent surveys that showed the water in two of three tested homes still contained high lead levels despite the use of filters. The letter told the state’s largest city that it was “essential” to warn residents not to rely on filters.

In a joint statement issued Sunday afternoon, Gov. Phil Murphy and Mayor Ras Baraka said safe drinking water was critically important and called on the federal government to help.

“As we carefully evaluate our options and the data available to us, it is important to understand that the city and state will need support and assistance from the federal government if bottled water is to be provided and distributed to impacted residents,” the statement said.

The bottled water will be distributed at four locations beginning at 3 p.m. on Monday. Only those residents […]

More about lead in USA drinking water and public health:

Data Shows San Diego Officials Misled the Public on Potential Source of Lead in Water

Kids Risk Lead-Contaminated Drinking Water in Schools

DC drinking water needs more monitoring for lead, audit finds

Lead-Tainted Water In Schools: Connecticut Gets Failing Grade

Michigan’s Lead in Drinking Water Protections Under Attack

New Mexico: New administration opens up on lead data

Flint officials agree to new rules in replacing lead water lines

Pittsburgh water agency to spend $50M to replace lead pipes

Doctors say Minnesota needs to do more to protect kids from lead exposure in school water

Toxic legacy: Wash U researchers look for ways to keep lead out of drinking water

Duke Study: Rivers Contaminated With Radium and Lead From Thousands of Fracking Wastewater Spills

Study: Flint’s lead-poisoned water had ‘horrifyingly large’ effect on fetal deaths

What new EPA lead regulations mean for local drinking water protection

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Lead crisis in Newark leads to distribution of bottled water...
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Responding to reports that filters are not protecting residents from elevated lead levels in their drinking water, Newark officials on Sunday said they will distribute bottled water to households with old lead pipes
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NJ.com - True New Jersey
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