A Lead and Copper Rule Compliance Study completed in early October 2018 showed that the corrosion control presently used in a portion of Newark's drinking water system is no longer effective.

If you have a lead service line to your home (the pipe that connects from the water main on your street to the meter in your house), there is a potential for lead to dissolve into your drinking water.

The city is undertaking new corrosion control measures to inhibit the release of lead into your water and is embarking on an eight-year effort to replace some 15,000 lead service lines in the city.

In the meantime, if you have a lead service line, you should install a filter on your water supply.

The city is making filters available for free to residents with lead service lines.

Starting Saturday, October 13, 2018, the filters can be picked up at the Boylan Recreation Center located at 916 South Orange Avenue, and at the Department of Health and Community Wellness, at 110 William Street from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Filters will also be available at the following locations:

North Ward

• Vince Lombardi Center of Hope, 201 Bloomfield Avenue

South Ward

• St. Peter’s Recreation Center, 378 Lyons Avenue

Central Ward

• Hayes Park West Recreation, 179 Boyd Street
• Central John F. Kennedy Recreation Center: 211 West Kinney Street (entrance on Howard Street)
• The Water and Sewers Facility, 239 Central Avenue

These centers will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. during the week of October 15.

During the week of October 22, the distribution centers will be open from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.

City Hall and Newark’s Health Department will remain distribution locations Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

The Water and Sewers Facility will operate from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week, through November 1.

Lead can pose a significant risk if too much enters the body. Lead builds up in the body over many years and can cause brain damage, and impact red blood cells and kidneys. The greatest risk is to young children and pregnant women.

More information about lead testing can be found at: https://www.state.nj.us/health/childhoodlead/testing.shtml

Residents can have their water tested at no charge by contacting the Department of Water and Sewer Utilities at (973) 733-6303 or emailing [email protected] to request an inspection.

A website with information about Newark lead service lines, which homes have been affected and how to obtain and install water filters, can be found at https://www.newarkleadserviceline.com

Watch the mayor's press conference on Oct. 12, 2018