EPA Gives Newark Schools $7.5M To Replace Old Lead Pipes

Newark's schools are getting a $7.5 million federal grant to upgrade water infrastructure and eliminate lead from its drinking supply.

Lead leaches into the water from old pipes and fixtures still present in many of the buildings that, on average, are 95 years old.

Newark Schools Superintendent Roger Leon said the money from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "will undoubtedly move us from mitigating to eliminating." 

High levels of lead were first reported in the schools in 2016 and since then the district has spent millions of dollars rolling out testing programs and installing filters at water fountains and kitchen sinks.

"We have installed lead reduction filters...on every drinking fountain and every potable water, the areas where they prepare food, so anyone drinking the water can be assured its safe," said Steven Morlino, director of facilities management for Newark schools.  

He said a small percent of drinking fountains remain off limits because the lead pipes pumping water to them are behind walls that need more work — and money — to replace. Knocking down a wall to replace a pipe, can also mean remediating lead paint or asbestos. Morlino said the grant will help the district eliminate the source of lead by replacing the remaining lead pipes with safer materials. The money will also aid with water testing and help maintain existing filters. The current filtration system costs about half a million dollars to maintain a year. 

Pete Lopez, the EPA Administrator for New York and New Jersey said he was proud of how far Newark had come since the water crisis erupted more than a year ago. Last summer, Lopez mandated city officials distribute bottled water after tests for two water filters raised alarm. 

"I'd rather take the hit for being too cautious than finding that homes and families are not receiving the protection they need," he told WNYC. "As difficult as the conversation was, we had to work through the emotional piece to attack the real issues and that was lead in the service lines."

Lopez said Newark could be a model for other cities struggling with lead issues. The city has replaced more than 16,000 lead service lines using county bonds at no cost to individual residents. Officials say all 18,000 lines, which pump water from underground mains to homes, should be replaced with copper by next spring. 

Newark's most recent monitoring period shows it is finally in compliance with allowable lead levels under 15 parts per billion. Testing in the schools also shows no elevated lead levels.

The EPA says nine other cities are also receiving grants to help replace lead pipes, for a total of $39.9 million.