The Passaic Valley Water Commission (PVWC) announced that it has begun work to remove and replace about 6,500 lead service lines in Clifton, Passaic, and Paterson, N.J.
The commission says that it will also continue inspecting about 11,000 additional service lines of unknown material.
"While we are pleased to start replacing these lead service lines in our owner cities, we need our customers to participate in this free program," says Jim Mueller, PVWC executive director. "Lead is bad and any exposure to lead is not considered safe . . . that's why we're continuing to get the lead out as we have been doing since the 1980's."
A law signed by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy in July 2021 requires water systems in New Jersey to identify all lead service lines, provide public notification regarding the presence of lead service lines, and replace all lead service lines by 2031.The replacement initiative is being funded by a 77 percent principal forgiveness Loan from the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank.
"There is no safe level of lead in drinking water," says Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette. " Eliminating lead service lines, found in many communities across the state, is a key objective of the administration's innovative Water Infrastructure Improvement Plan (WIIP), fueled by federal funding under the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and continuing state appropriations championed by Governor Phil Murphy and the New Jersey Legislature."
