NEW JERSEY — The largest regulated water utility in New Jersey says it is on pace to replace tens of thousands of lead pipes across the state, a mandate that partly contributed to a recent rate hike for its customers.
On Thursday, New Jersey American Water (NJAW) announced that it has replaced nearly 10,000 customer-owned lead and galvanized steel water service lines in its coverage area of about 2.9 million people.
Not sure if you’re in the company’s service area? See a list of towns and cities here.
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The company’s efforts are being done to comply with a landmark state law passed in 2021, which aims to protect New Jersey’s drinking water supply from lead contamination. Read More: New Jersey Is Replacing Its Lead Water Pipes – All Of Them
Under the law, hundreds of community water systems in New Jersey were given 10 years to replace all of their lead service lines. The pipes – which connect local homes and businesses to the local water supply – can potentially leach contamination as water passes through them. A portion of the pipes may be privately owned, complicating efforts to replace them.
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New Jersey American Water has created a website where customers can view the service line material of their property and see if it needs to be reported. View the map online here.
As required by state law, New Jersey American Water has been notifying property owners with lead or galvanized service lines via direct mail annually until their lead or galvanized service line is replaced. This notification follows the company’s annual July inventory submission to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
New this year and beginning in October, customers with unknown service line material will receive a letter from New Jersey American Water with helpful information about how to self-identify and report their service line material. This is also a requirement of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule for all water providers, the company stated.
NJAW spokespeople said it’s important to note that if a customer’s service line contains lead, it doesn’t mean they cannot use water as they normally do:
“New Jersey American Water regularly tests for lead in drinking water and the water delivered to customers meets state and federal water quality regulations, including those set for lead. Additionally, customers should go to www.dep.nj.gov/lead for information on how to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water.”
“We’re not just meeting legislative requirements; we’re setting the standard for proactive lead mitigation in New Jersey,” NJAW president Mark McDonough said.
“Our work, however, is far from over, and we need our customers’ continued cooperation to work with us to identify remaining lead service lines,” McDonough added.
FILTERS
As an important next step for customers, New Jersey American Water will begin providing pitcher filters to customers this month after every lead or galvanized steel service line replacement statewide, along with the company’s information packet that includes installation and flushing instructions.
Pitcher filter distribution to customers after these replacements will be required by U.S. EPA regulations under the updated Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR), the company said.
“The distribution of pitcher filters is a critical component of the comprehensive approach to lead service line replacement,” McDonough said. “While our water quality meets standards, these filters provide an extra layer of protection during the transition period after a service line is replaced.”
RATE HIKE
As part of a recent rate hike approved by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, the company said its need was primarily driven by more than $1.3 billion in infrastructure investments for treatment system and distribution upgrades – including the replacement of thousands of utility-owned lead and galvanized service lines.
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