ATLANTIC COUNTY, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — In New Jersey, a new report says there is lead contamination in the water supply at nearly every school in Atlantic County. Some municipalities dispute these claims. One assemblyman said he just wants to know the truth.
The study came from Environment New Jersey and the Black Church Center for Justice and Equality and reported lead was detected in 92% of 66 schools across 25 districts in the county.
While those findings seem alarming, there are some concerns about the study's accuracy. Some municipalities claim the readings were not taken in the proper timeframe and others have said Environment New Jersey used its own contamination standard of zero parts per billion rather than 15 parts per billion, which is the federal guideline.
Read the initial study's findings here:
"I think everyone agrees we don't want lead in the pipes, but the concern was all of this misunderstanding over how we measure it, who measures it, what standards there are," said former Atlantic City mayor and current Assemblyman Don Guardian.
Guardian has asked New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection to fully investigate and release its own findings and recommendations.
Ultimately, he just wants to make sure, no matter whose report it is, it's correct. "That’s the bottom line," he said.
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If it is determined that lead is indeed a problem, Guardian said public officials will have to find the funding to ensure it gets fixed, no matter the cost.
The New Jersey DEP has made drinking water contamination a priority the past few years, specifically mentioning lead and PFAS as major concerns. Commissioner Shawn LaTourette said the standards in Jersey are more stringent than federal standards.
In other public health news:
