Lead in Drinking Water Task Force

The Jersey Water Works Lead in Drinking Water Task Force has issued a statewide plan for virtually eliminating lead in drinking water in 10 years.

Jersey Water Works Lead in Drinking Water Task Force

Every person in New Jersey deserves a safe, healthy environment that nurtures their full potential. Lead exposure thwarts this basic goal. Across New Jersey, lead in drinking water threatens human health, especially for children.

Picture of report coverTo address the risk from lead in water, Jersey Water Works, with support from The Fund for New Jersey, convened a 30-member task force of representatives from local, state, and federal governments; water utilities; academia; environmental, smart growth and community advocates and public health organizations. Beginning in December 2018, the task force worked to determine practical, cost-effective, equitable, and permanent solutions that will ensure people across the state can access drinking water free from the risks of lead. 

The task force’s work has culminated in the release of Lead in Drinking Water: A Permanent Solution for New Jersey. This report outlines actions New Jersey can take to virtually eliminate lead in drinking water in 10 years. 

The recommendations include: 

  • A coordinated state-level campaign to address lead from all sources: water, paint, and soil.
  • A  package of legislation that would simultaneously require and empower water utilities to replace dangerous lead pipes regardless of ownership.
  • The important state agency regulations, outreach programs, and transparency measures to ensure safe drinking water in homes.
  • Special actions to address lead in water in schools and child care facilities. 

These actions should be complemented by other efforts to address lead exposure and improve water infrastructure systems.

Read and download the report

Read and download the report summary

View the online appendix

Task force members committed to action in order to get a head start on the work of eliminating lead from drinking water. View the full list of commitments here.

Related links:

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Lead in Drinking Water Task Force members

  • Christopher Daggett, Chairman,
    former Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection;
    former Regional Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 2
  • Kareem Adeem, Acting Director Department of Water and Sewer Utilities, City of Newark
  • Christine Ash, Chief, Drinking Water and Groundwater Protection, United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 2
  • Joseph Bella, Executive Director, Passaic Valley Water Commission
  • Staci Berger, President and Chief Executive Officer, Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey
  • Laureen Boles, Director, New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance
  • Peter Chen, Policy Counsel, Advocates for Children of New Jersey
  • Olumuyiwa Falajiki, Supervisor of Certification, Lead Abatement Unit, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs
  • Michael Furrey, Owner, Agra Environmental and Laboratory Services
  • Patricia Gardner, Director, Division of Water Supply and Geoscience, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
  • Amy Goldsmith, State Director, Clean Water Action
  • Monique Griffith, Director of Health and Human Services, East Orange, New Jersey
  • Ishiya Hayes, Fellow, John S. Watson Institute for Public Policy, New Jersey Urban Mayors Association, Thomas Edison State University
  • Chris Huber, Special Assistant to the Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Education
  • Michael Kammer, Bureau Chief, Division of Water, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
  • Vineeta Kapahi, Community Strategies Fellow, East Trenton Collaborative
  • Cate Klinger, Director, National Campaign to End Lead Poisoning, Green and Healthy Homes Initiative
  • Andy Kricun, Executive Director, Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority*
  • Kristi MacDonald, Director of Science, Raritan Headwaters Association
  • Joe Myers, Committeeman, City of Bordentown; Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Cooper’s Ferry Partnership
  • Doug O’Malley, Executive Director, Environment New Jersey
  • Joseph Pargola, Assistant Director, Office of Policy and Regulatory Development, New Jersey Department of Children and Families
  • Elyse Pivnick, Senior Director of Environmental Health Policy, Isles
  • Shereen Semple, Director, Office of Local Public Health, New Jersey Department of Health
  • Tom Shroba, Vice President of Operations, New Jersey American Water*
  • David Smith, Chief Engineer, Trenton Water Works, City of Trenton (served after Sept. 13, 2019)
    • Shing-Fu Hsueh, Director, Trenton Water Works, City of Trenton (served until Sept. 13, 2019)
  • Chris Sturm, Managing Director, Policy and Water, New Jersey Future
  • Robert Tucker, Scientist (retired), New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
  • Dan Van Abs, Associate Professor of Practice for Water, Society and the Environment, Rutgers University*
  • Lucy Vandenberg, Senior Program Officer, The Fund for New Jersey

*Member of the Jersey Water Works Steering Committee

With a grant from The Fund for New Jersey, staff support is provided by New Jersey Future, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that promotes sensible growth, redevelopment and infrastructure investments in the state and facilitates the Jersey Water Works collaborative.

Questions about the JWW Lead in Drinking Water Task Force? Contact Gary Brune of Jersey Water Works’ backbone staff, 609-393-0008 ex. 119, to learn more.

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