New Jersey

Citing "dangerous" levels of lead in Newark's drinking water, an environmental nonprofit that sued Flint, Michigan over lead contamination is now threatening to sue New Jersey's largest city.

The group says about 20 percent of water samples taken from across Newark last year exceeded acceptable federal lead levels, raising serious health concerns over safe drinking water.

City officials have staunchly denied the claims, insisting that lead issues are limited to buildings with aging infrastructure.
"These lead levels are shockingly high," said Sara Imperiale, an attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) that filed a 60-day notice of intent to sue to the city and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection on Tuesday.

The Newark Education Workers Caucus, a group of Newark educators, also plans to join the suit.

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Last year, 10 percent of water samples showed lead in excess of 26 parts per billion, nearly double the federal action level. One address tested at 137 parts per billion, the group said.

It's not the city's first lead scare.
In 2016, Newark's public schools announced it was shutting off all drinking fountains after finding elevated levels of lead in 30 schools. Last year, the district turned the drinking water back on after pipes were replaced and filters were installed.



http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2018/04/newark_has_dangerously_high_levels_of_lead_in_its.html