Bloomfield Finds Elevated Lead In Water At 15 Local Homes

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Bloomfield town officials announced last week that 15 out of 61 local homes showed elevated lead levels during a recent round of water testing. Bloomfield’s mayor and Town Council plan to hold a public meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 13 in the Media Center of Bloomfield Middle School to discuss the findings – as well as how residents can reduce their risk of lead exposure.

According to Bloomfield municipal officials, the testing was part of the township’s lead sampling program, which is required by the EPA and NJDEP to sample for the substance.

Tests of 61 local homes found that 46 samples passed all state regulations, while 15 of them exhibited elevated lead levels, “most likely due to old infrastructure” within the homes such as lead piping or lead contained within older faucets and plumbing fixtures, not the township’s water supply, officials said.

The specific “elevated” levels were not provided in an initial municipal statement about the testing.

No cases of lead poisoning from contaminated water exposure have been reported in Bloomfield, and township schools were recently tested for lead and levels were below legal limits, officials said.

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“We have done extensive testing on the township’s water supply which did not detect elevated lead levels, but household testing is continuing to show that some older homes in the community still have lead-based plumbing fixtures, which can cause lead buildup in water,” Township Engineer Paul Lasek said.

Bloomfield officials stated:

“The most common problem is with brass or chrome-plated faucets and fixtures with lead solder, from which significant amounts of lead can enter into the water, especially hot water.”

Township officials said that the municipality will continue to test lead levels over the next year and will be taking several steps to inform residents of the situation, including a public notice that will be mailed to all water system users.

The Bloomfield Health Department is encouraging residents to take steps to reduce their risk of lead exposure by following EPA guidelines and flushing their faucets for 15 to 30 seconds before drinking water and using lead certified water filters.

“Running water for 15-30 seconds before drinking, using cold water only for cooking and using water filtration devices are all simple things we can all do to make sure our families are protected,” said Karen Lore, Bloomfield Director of Health and Welfare.

The township is continuing to offer free lead tests to any residents concerned about potential lead build-up in their homes. Residents can schedule a test or get additional information by calling 973-680-4009.

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