Newark Turns Page On Lead Water Crisis; Lawsuit Settled – Patch.com

NEWARK, NJ — A new chapter has arrived for Newark and its battle to purge lead from its drinking water.

On Tuesday, city and state officials reached a settlement on a longstanding lawsuit with community activists over Newark’s struggles with lead water contamination.

The suit was launched by the Newark Education Workers (NEW) Caucus and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). It named the City of Newark and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP).

The lawsuit, filed in June of 2018, sought injunctive relief for alleged violations of the federal Safe Water Drinking Act.

At one point, the lead levels in Newark’s drinking water had risen to 47 parts per billion at some sites – more than three times the federal threshold. In August 2019, federal officials insisted that the city temporarily provide bottled water to residents, who had been using city-provided filters in their homes as a stopgap measure.

The city rolled out a new method of treating its water, which is also sold to several nearby towns and cities in Essex County. It also began a massive, $134 million campaign to replace more than 18,000 lead service pipes throughout the city, many of them privately owned. Normally the work can cost thousands of dollars, but Newark offered it at no cost for residents through the municipal replacement program.

There were no tax increases or water rate hikes as a result, city officials say.

Department of Water and Sewer Utilities Director Kareem Adeem said the cooperation and patience of the city’s residents has contributed heavily to the effort’s success.

“We can’t thank the residents enough,” Adeem said. “They’ve been willing to help us identify lines, give us access to their homes and apartments, and even during COVID-19 were making sure our construction crew were well-stocked with PPE so they could continue working through the pandemic.”

In recent months, the city has reached several important milestones in its recovery process. For example, Newark has replaced more than 17,000 lead service lines and distributed more than 41,000 filters as of Tuesday, the NJDEP reported.

In July 2020, the city reached another big turning point when its average lead levels fell to 14.1 parts per billion.

Tuesday’s deal will require the City of Newark to continue its rapid pace of fully replacing lead service lines from the water main pipe to people’s homes, at no direct cost. No partial pipe replacements are permitted under the agreement.

The proposed agreement also requires Newark to continue to provide free water testing to residents, as well as free filters and replacement cartridges to eligible residents.

There is no safe level of exposure to lead, the NRDC pointed out in a statement on Tuesday.

“While considerable progress has been made, it is critical for residents eligible for water filters to continue using them, and to make sure to replace expired water filter cartridges,” the NRDC stated.

The group said it will monitor the settlement terms along with the NEW Caucus. It plans to make updates available at its website. The city and NJDEP will also be required to share information about lead levels and remediation efforts.

The NJDEP has established a new email address for Newark residents who have concerns about lead in their drinking water: newarklead@dep.nj.gov. They can also contact the agency via phone at 609-292-5550.

“NEW Caucus and other residents stood up to fight for safe drinking water in Newark, securing an extraordinary victory for generations of kids who will live healthier, better lives because they won’t be drinking leaded tap water,” said Erik Olson, NRDC’s senior strategic director for health.

“Newark’s aggressive lead service line replacement program, at no direct cost to residents, could serve as a model for the nation once it is completed,” Olson suggested.

“Lead damages children’s brains, which is why our group of public school teachers brought this case to secure safe drinking water for families in Newark,” said Yvette Jordan, chair of the NEW Caucus.

“Thankfully, our actions worked. Newark has come a long way to provide a brighter future for its children, and this settlement will ensure the job is finished,” Jordan added.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who has vocally defended the city’s response to the crisis, said that local officials were already hard at work remedying the issues named in the lawsuit before the settlement was announced.

“All the things they’re listing in the suit that we must do, we are already doing,” Baraka said. “For instance, it says we must replace all lead lines as part of the settlement. The settlement was released two days ago, and we’ve done 17,000. Clearly, we are not working at their beck and call, but at our own.”

Baraka also commented about other demands in the lawsuit, such as free bottled water, free water testing, continued education of residents about lead and the use of filters, and the public posting of data.

“I resent the implication that we had to be pushed into doing all that,” Baraka said. “For instance, the city has been testing water for free for decades. From the very beginning of trace lead found in several residential homes, we have dutifully informed, educated and looked out for the best interests of our residents without being threatened by lawsuits or protests.”

“I’m proud of the way this city and our residents have responded to this problem,” he added. “We attacked it with grit and will and our own home-grown leadership. We solve our own problems.”

Catch up on some of our past coverage of the crisis below.

Big Milestone For Newark’s Lead Water Crisis As City Fights Coronavirus

Despite fighting a simultaneous war with coronavirus, Newark has managed to keep the ball rolling on its lead water crisis, officials say.

Newark Mayor Tells Trump: We Need Safe Water, Not A Border Wall

It’s going to cost millions to fix Newark’s lead service lines. Should the federal government foot some of the bill?

Protest For Clean Water Ignites Outside MTV Awards In Newark

A protest took place outside the MTV Video Music Awards in Newark. The city is dealing with lead water contamination in thousands of homes.

Newark Schools Will Get $7.5 Million To Combat Lead In Water

A big boost is coming Newark’s way thanks to a $7.5 million federal grant from the EPA. It’s “long overdue,” an advocate said.

Newark Water Crisis: Essex County Helps City Nab $120M In Loans

Officials have demanded federal funds to help Newark. Essex County is helping the city give itself a hand up in the meanwhile.

Court Rules Against Newark Activists In Battle Over Bottled Water

Activists claim lead water contamination in Newark is more widespread than officials admit. The city says they’re wrong… and tests prove it.

Newark Isn’t Only NJ City At Risk Of Lead Water, Map Shows

Lead service lines are in 104 water systems across NJ, potentially affecting 5 million residents. Here’s who’s at risk, a group says.

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