Governor Murphy, Congressman Gottheimer Announce New Efforts to Ensure New Jersey Schools Have Access to Clean Water
for Ramapo News
Gov. Phil Murphy and Congressman Josh Gottheimer introduced on Monday more improved initiatives to enhance New Jersey’s response to lead water contamination, expected to strengthen the urgency for lead testing as well as press the issue further with regard to the State’s schools.
The New Jersey Department of Education seeks to spend $100 million in voter-approved bond funding to improve water systems within schools in need. These projects are supported by the Securing Our Children's Future Bond Act.
These motives, specified by the improved Safe Drinking Water regulations, will be achieved by urging required lead testing every three years in schools, doubling the initial policy of six years. The Department classifies that if a school does not comply with these new guidelines, enforcements have also been put into effect: negative representation in the media as well as penalties regarding the district’s NJQSAC’s review.
It has been made clear that a crucial objective is to make certain all students have access to clean drinking water.
The New Jersey Department of Education additionally promised to provide lead testing results from all school districts in the state.
“New Jersey’s aging water infrastructure has ignited a statewide discussion regarding the best path forward to protect residents from the dangers of lead,” said Governor Murphy, the enforcer of these initiatives. “By mobilizing the state’s resources to incorporate rigorous testing standards, modernize reporting mechanisms, and repair critical water infrastructure, we are strengthening our efforts to overcome a statewide challenge that has been building over many decades.”
He continues, “My Administration is working with all levels of government and across several departments to ensure that New Jersey’s students, educators, and residents have access to clean, safe drinking water for generations to come.”
United States Congressman Gottheimer also had an active role in this process as he has been a long term activist toward the fight for clean drinking water in schools, according to Assemblyman Christopher Tully, a colleague of the Congressman.
"Every child deserves to drink water that’s free of lead, and every parent deserves to know if their child’s school has lead in their pipes, sinks, or water fountains," said Gottheimer. "Right now, I’m working on new federal legislation to claw the resources back to New Jersey, from the Moocher States, needed to help our schools identify and replace all lead pipes -- and to promote transparency by making the results accessible to families online."
In cities that contain a high population of lower class communities such as Paterson and Camden, the lead contamination in drinking water is most prominent.
