Water Filters To Be Installed At Bridgewater-Raritan Schools

Bridgewater, NJ -- Water filters are being installed at two schools and one administrative building in the Bridgewater-Raritan School District after elevated lead levels were discovered in the water.

John F. Kennedy Primary School, Bradley Gardens Elementary School and the Wade Administration Building will each have filters installed at points of contact where people access water for consumption, Bridgewater-Raritan Interim Superintendent Daniel Silvia said at the April 26 Board of Education meeting.

"There is nothing wrong with washing your hands and things like that," Silvia said. "It's really just water fountains and places they fill a pot to cook."

Drinking water sources at John F. Kennedy Primary School and the Wade Administration Building were found to have "elevated lead levels" after the district proactively conducted testing at all 11 buildings due to recent news reports.

Both were above the acceptable level, which is 15 parts per billion (ppb). Fifteen parts per billion is the federal Environmental Protection Agency action level for lead in drinking water.

The only two locations with lead concentrations above 15 ppb are:

• John F. Kennedy Primary School – 20 ppb
• Wade Administration Building -145 ppb

Bradley Gardens came back with a result of 11 ppb. Although that was not above the acceptable level, Silvia suggested filters still be placed at the school.

"Bradley Gardens was the only other school that had double digit results," Silvia said. "Although that is within the normal drinking range, I asked Ray Ruth the manager of building and grounds to also put filters at the school. This is being done as a proactive measure."

All other schools were within single digit results.

The filters are expected to be installed this week and once that is complete Strategic Environmental will come back to retest the water at each location where water comes out.

"Once we get the results and the issue is re-mediated, at that point we will turn the water back on," Silvia said. "I am confident the plan in place will re-mediate these issues."

The entire process could take between three to four weeks.

In the meantime, bottled water has been provided for students and is also being used by the kitchen for cooking purposes.

Currently there is no law in New Jersey that requires schools to test the lead levels in water. Despite that, Silvia wants to continue to test the water annually at all district buildings.

"Whether it is required or not... if for some reason something occurs, we can be aware of it and can address it immediately," Silvia said. "This way we can ensure there is clean drinking water for everyone."