More NJ Towns Have Lead In Drinking Water: Here's The Latest

A New Jersey town found elevated levels of lead in drinking water in some homes and buildings – joining a growing number that have dealt with the dangerous substance.

The Pequannock Township Water Department in Morris County sent a notice to its residents saying lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children.

Specifically, 60 samples were collected at residences served by the Pequannock Township Water Department between Feb. 2 and March 18 and nine of the results exceeded the Lead Action Level of 15 ppb, according to town officials.

Lead can cause serious health problems if too much enters your body from drinking water or other sources. It can cause damage to the brain and kidneys, and can interfere with the production of red blood cells that carry oxygen to all parts of your body, according to the notice. The greatest risk of lead exposure is to infants, young children and pregnant women.

Read more: Bloomfield Hands Out Water Filters After Tests Show Elevated Lead

The Pequannock Township Water Department currently purchases water from the City of Newark’s Pequannock Water Treatment Facility that blends with its own ground water sources.

Read more: Newark Hands Out Thousands Of Lead Water Filters After Lawsuit

The Pequannock Township Water Department does not currently operate corrosion control treatment for lead for its ground water sources. Based upon information from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Newark’s corrosion control treatment is currently ineffective, which leads to elevated levels of lead in homes that have lead piping or plumbing, officials said.

Read more: Elevated Lead Levels Found In Drinking Water In Some Bergen Homes

Those homes which do not have lead-containing materials should not experience elevated levels of lead from the water supply, officials said.

For more information, call us at 973-835-5700 extension 189), or visit our website at www.peqtwp.org.