Veolia Water New Jersey Lead Service Program
Information regarding lead and your water service
Information regarding lead and your water service
Lead and copper enters drinking water primarily through plumbing materials. In 2017, the EPA revised the lead and copper rule with the goal of reducing the risks of lead exposure for children and communities by improving protection of children at schools and childcare facilities, getting the lead out of our nation's drinking water, and empowering communities through information.
Veolia is committed to protecting residents and families from lead through our comprehensive Lead Reduction Program.
Lead levels are at historic lows in the system that serves Bergen and Hudson counties after a four-year $120 million project to attack lead on many fronts. Testing shows lead levels at 5.5 parts per billion, well below the state and federal action level of 15 ppb and the 18.4 ppb the system recorded in late 2018. In fact, the current results are the lowest recorded in at least the 30 years since the federal Environmental Protection Agency established rules for testing for lead in water. In the field and in the lab, we’re working to protect residents and families across New Jersey. While our crews are in the streets removing thousands of lead service lines every year, our water quality experts are working to enhance corrosion treatment, which coats pipes to prevent lead from entering the water. Here’s a video of one our crews replacing a lead service line.
Lead isn’t present in the water at the treatment plant or in the water mains. However, a small percentage of service lines are made of lead. Veolia has developed a map for you to search within our New Jersey service areas to discover what the service line material is at your specific address. If the customer side of your service is marked as unknown, continue to the section below to see the self identify survey.
Common Water Service Locations
We have created a simple survey that will walk you through the steps of identifying your service line material. Click on the button below to fill out the self identify survey. At the end of the survey, please attach a picture of your service line material using the upload tool before submitting. If you have questions regarding the survey or need assistance completing it, please contact our NJ Customer Service Center at (800) 422-5987.
Lead paint, lead dust, and contaminated soil are the most common sources of exposure to lead. Lead can also enter the tap water through corrosion of plumbing materials in your home. Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead pipes, fixtures, and solder since the federal ban only went into effect that year. After 1986 in New Jersey, all structures were required to meet the federal lead ban for any plumbing materials that touch drinking water.
Common Reasons for Lead Diagram
Although most lead exposure occurs from contaminated dust, soil, or paint, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) estimates that 10 to 20 percent of human exposure may come from drinking water. Lead is rarely found in the source of your drinking water, but enters tap water by corrosion of materials containing lead. Where present, lead service lines are typically the most significant source of lead in the water.
New brass faucets, fittings, and valves, including those advertised as “lead-free” may still contain a small percentage of lead. The law currently allows end use brass fixtures, such as faucets, with up to 0.25 percent lead to be labeled as “lead free”. However, prior to 2011, “lead free” allowed up to 8 percent lead content of the wetted surfaces of plumbing products including those labeled as National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) certified. Visit the NSF website at www.nsf.org to learn more about lead-containing plumbing fixtures. Consumers should be aware of this when choosing fixtures and take appropriate precautions.
When water stands in lead service lines or plumbing systems for several hours or more, the lead may dissolve into your drinking water. This means the first water drawn from the tap in the morning, or later in the afternoon if the water has not been used all day, can contain higher levels of lead.
AWWA: Together, Let's Get the Lead Out
For more information about the Lead and Copper Rule in New Jersey please visit https://www.nj.gov/dep/lead/replacement.html