Nation follows New Jersey’s example on lead remediation

TRENTON, December 1, 2023—Peter Kasabach, Executive Director at New Jersey Future states:

“Lead service lines that provide drinking water to homes account for 75% of lead drinking water exposure and are a significant cause of lead poisoning for children across the country, including in New Jersey. Yesterday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements proposal that would require water systems across the country to replace lead service lines within 10 years. The federal rule mirrors the New Jersey law passed in 2021 that grew out of a series of convenings by Jersey Water Works of a broad cross-section of private and public-sector stakeholders.

While the New Jersey law is more comprehensive than the new federal rule, we are glad to see the federal government taking this big step forward and using New Jersey as a model, including citing the state law, the work of Jersey Water Works, and successful implementation by the City of Newark, and the State in general.

Other states can use New Jersey and Newark as models for how to implement the new requirements, with examples and resources readily available from Jersey Water Works.”