New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has signed legislation (S968/A2836) that will require public water systems to provide notice of elevated lead levels in drinking water to customers and local officials and require landlords to notify tenants of elevated lead levels.
“We must continue to take proactive action to protect our communities from the dangers of lead exposure,” said Governor Murphy. “This legislation will ensure that community members are aware of the levels of lead in their drinking water, a critical step toward protecting our children and families from the dangers of lead exposure.”
“Water systems and landlords must take care to ensure that New Jersey residents have accurate and timely information about potential risks to their drinking water and, by extension, their health,” said Acting Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette. “My DEP colleagues and I commend the Legislature for passing this bill, which complements Governor Murphy’s plan to reduce lead exposure statewide, including through the nation-leading regulatory framework that DEP is developing that will proactively reduce the risk of lead in drinking water.”
This bill requires that written notice of elevated lead levels in drinking water be provided to all customers no later than 10 days after it is determined that lead levels are above the lead action level. That notice must also include details of the lead action level, provide information on the health effects of lead in drinking water, and provide information about steps a customer can take to reduce risk. Landlords will be required to deliver this notice to all tenants served by the water system within three days of receiving the notice from the public water system. The legislation supplements the Safe Drinking Water Act.
The bill was sponsored by Senators Troy Singleton and Joe Lagana and Assemblymembers Bill Moen, Lisa Swain, and Chris Tully.
