Barnegat, Stafford Schools Had Too Much Lead In Water: State

BARNEGAT, NJ — The Barnegat and Stafford school districts are two of the 61 districts statewide that had too much lead discovered in their water in recent years, according to a new state database.

All Barnegat schools were last tested May 19, 2017, while Stafford schools last tested June 18, 2016, according to each district's statement of assurance in the database. Several schools had at least one sample that was above the lead action level established by the US Environmental Protection Agency for lead in drinking water (15 µg/l [ppb]).

Both districts took action on any structure that tested too high, including removing affected sinks and fountains. Following initial testing, all locations that tested above the lead action level were disconnected while remediation took place.

Here are the results:

BARNEGAT

Barnegat High School: all initial test samples were below the state limit.

Russell O. Brackman Middle School: all initial tests below the state limit.

Robert L. Horbelt School: all initial tests below the state limit.

Lillian M. Dunfee School: one drinking water sample (DE8) tested above the state limit at 16.5. The second test sample from that location tested below the state limit. It's unclear from where the sample was taken.

Cecil S. Collins School: two samples (CS3 and C512) tested above the state limit on the first test. CS3 passed the second test, while CS12's second sample contained more than the state limit. CS12's sample passed the third test.

• CS3's first test: 17.1
• CS12's first test: 23.2
• CS3's second test: 1.03
• CS12's second test: no number listed
• CS12's third test: 5.46

Joseph T. Donahue School: three samples exceeded state limits on the first test. One passed the retest, while two were disconnected and removed.

• JD45 (kitchen kettle): 17.8 first test, 1.81 second test
• JD46 (pot filler, stove): 94 first test, removed
• JD47 (pot filler): 25.3 first test, 64.7 retest, removed

STAFFORD

Here were the fountains and sinks that exceeded limits in the Stafford Township School District:

Oxycocus Elementary

• gym fountain, right
• fountain near room 33

Ocean Acres Elementary

• fountain in room A10
• right sink in room 302
• sink in 201

Intermediate School

• fountain in room 214
• sink in library media room

McKinley Avenue School

• Fountain in room 88

The Stafford district didn't post specific results for each test. But a note from Senior Environmental Compliance Officer Cathy Ledden says they disconnect and discontinued use of the areas listed above.

Read more: Lead in Water: New Database Shows Many NJ Schools Had Too Much

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