Belleville Issues Drinking Water Advisory: ‘This Is Not An Emergency’

BELLEVILLE, NJ — Belleville town officials issued an advisory to local residents about their drinking water supply on Monday.

“This is not an emergency,” officials said. “If it had been, you would have been notified within 24 hours.”

The advisory reads:

“Our water system recently infringed the drinking water standard. Although this is not an emergency, as our customers, you have a right to know what happened, what you should do, and what we are doing to correct this situation. Our system purchases corrosion control treatment water from the City of Newark which adds corrosion control treatment to help prevent lead and/or copper in the pipes from dissolving into the water. Optimal WQPs were established by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). Optimal WQPs are values in which the corrosion control treatment functions most effectively. The corrosion control treatment was deemed optimized, optimal WQPs were established, and the water system must monitor for optimal WQPs per the federal regulations. During the July 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022, monitoring period, we failed to consistently meet treatment technique requirements. WQP results did not meet the optimal WQP control values set by the State for 49 days in the 6-month monitoring period, and the system cannot be outside the values set by the State for more than 9 days in a 6-month period.”

The Belleville Water Department continued:

“Our water system routinely monitors for lead and copper in the distribution system. The most recent event conducted from July 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022 showed that lead and copper levels were in compliance with the lead and copper action levels per the federal regulations. However, since corrosion control treatment is used to protect residents from lead and copper potentially leaching from internal pipes and solder, it is important to be aware of the health effects of lead and copper and steps you may take to reduce your exposure.”

According to town officials:

• Infants and children who drink water containing lead in excess of the action level could experience delays in their physical or mental development. Children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities. Adults who drink this water over many years could develop kidney problems or high blood pressure.
• Copper is an essential nutrient, but some people who drink water containing copper in excess of the action level over a relatively short amount of time could experience gastrointestinal distress. Some people who drink water containing copper in excess of the action level over many years could suffer liver or kidney damage. People with Wilson’s Disease should consult their personal physician.

“If you have a severely compromised immune system, have an infant, are pregnant, or are elderly, you may be at increased risk and should seek advice from your health care providers about drinking this water,” officials added.

Here are some steps that Belleville residents can take to reduce their exposure to lead and/or copper, officials said:

• Run water to flush out lead and/or copper. Run water for 15-30 seconds or until it becomes cold or reaches a steady temperature before using it for drinking or cooking if it hasn’t been used for several hours.
• Use cold water for cooking and preparing baby formula. Do not cook with or drink water from the hot water tap; Lead dissolves more quickly into hot water. Do not use water from the hot water tap to make baby formula.
• Do not boil water. Boiling water will not reduce lead and/or copper levels.

“The Belleville Water Department is continuing its current water quality sampling, working with Newark, working with our lab, and will take additional samplers if required,” officials said. “We anticipate resolving the problem within six months.”

For more information, contact Georgeann Polite at 973-450-3414 or the Engineering Department at 152 Washington Avenue in Belleville.

• See Related: Belleville Releases Annual Drinking Water Quality Report

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