Newark Schools Will Get $7.5 Million To Combat Lead In Water – Newark, NJ Patch

NEWARK, NJ — A big boost is coming Newark’s way thanks to a federal grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Last week, the EPA announced that it has selected the Newark Board of Education for a $7.5 million grant to combat lead water contamination in the district’s schools.

The grant will help fund the Newark Safe Water Initiative, which aims to reduce sources of lead in school drinking water and benefit more than 36,000 students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, as well as almost 6,000 employees in 64 schools.

The Board of Education will use the EPA grant funding to remove sources of lead in drinking water in schools, including addressing lead pipes and fixtures. The project will also include outreach and public education to raise awareness of the health effects of lead in drinking water and ways to reduce lead exposure.

Officials made the announcement in advance of National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week.

According to Newark officials, the city’s lead water woes have begun to turn around in a big way. The average lead levels in Newark’s water have fallen below 15 parts per billion, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s benchmark of an “acceptable level,” and the city has replaced the majority of its 18,000 aging, lead-lined service pipes, one of the main culprits of the contamination.

But concerns over lead levels in the district’s water supply – as well as the city at large – still persist. And continued funding will be important in keeping students and staff safe in the future, some advocates say.

“We have a crisis in New Jersey when it comes to lead in our drinking water and our crumbling infrastructure,” said Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “This is especially true in Newark, where we’ve been dealing with lead for decades.”

“Finally getting money is a good thing, but it is long overdue,” Tittel added.

The recently announced funds for Newark are among the EPA’s first-ever selections under the Reduction In Lead Exposure Via Drinking Water program, which is done under the auspices of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act.

Overall, $39.9 million in funds were awarded to 10 projects. Newark was the only awardee in New Jersey.

The news drew a round of applause from a large cast of elected officials and school administrators, including U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, who recently authored a law that will deliver tens of millions of dollars in funding to address the lead crisis in communities like Newark.

“Every American should have access to safe, clean drinking water, and this federal funding takes another important step towards making that a reality for Newark’s children,” Booker said. “Residents of Newark, including myself, are counting on the federal government to remedy this environmental injustice and protect our children.”

Other supporters of the EPA grant to Newark included:

U.S. Rep. Donald Payne Jr. – “I was extremely pleased to hear about the $7.5 million EPA grant to support the Newark Safe Water Initiative and provide cleaner drinking water in the city’s schools … This is a great day for the city, and I want to thank the EPA for recognizing the need for such funding in Newark.”

U.S. Rep. Albio Sires – “I am pleased to hear the Newark Board of Education is receiving this much needed grant funding that will help make drinking water at Newark public schools safer … This funding, which comes as part of the EPA’s Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act grant program, will be instrumental in addressing conditions that contribute to increased levels of lead in drinking water at Newark public schools.”

NJ DEP Commissioner Catherine McCabe – “We are grateful to the City of Newark and the EPA for their partnership in reducing lead in drinking water, especially for Newark’s schoolchildren. Throughout New Jersey and the entire country, sources of lead in our water infrastructure must be remediated to reduce the risk of lead exposure from drinking water. Newark has proven to be a national leader in reducing lead risk.”

Mayor Ras Baraka – “We are thankful for the EPA’s grant to further support our work to protect Newark families and children from the dangers of lead exposure. The City of Newark is near completion of replacing all of our lead service lines to homes throughout the city. With significant infrastructure investments and an unwavering priority of securing our community’s health, safety and quality of life, we remain committed to delivering the purest water possible to our residents.”

Superintendent Roger León – “The Newark Safe Water Initiative completes a full remediation, provides new service lines and fixtures through strategic planning, sampling, and testing, and sustains the water filtration system in schools that have been remediated. By achieving the objectives of this project because of the EPA and with the city of Newark’s support, we will have an increased number of drinking water fixtures, fountains, outlets, and plumbing in schools.”

Newark Water/Sewer Director Kareem Adeem – “The EPA has been a great partner in helping us identify and correct the lead leachates in our service lines. This grant to our Board of Education furthers their partnership and our commitment to eradicate lead from leaching into our drinking water.”

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