Elevated Levels Of Lead Found In Cherry Hill School District's Drinking Water

Cherry Hill, NJ -- Elevated levels of lead have been found in nine water outlets at five elementary schools in the Cherry Hill School District, officials said on Wednesday.

Outlets at Bret Harte, James Johnson, Horace Mann, Joseph D. Sharp and Woodcrest elementary schools tested higher than the 15 parts per billion (ppb) allowed by the state, the district announced on its website.

Immediate remedial measures will be taken, including the removing and capping of the outlet unless it is determined that the outlet must remain in place for non-drinking purposes, in which case a “Do Not Drink, Safe For Handwashing Only” sign will be put in place.

Water has also been tested at Richard Stockton and the Mahlberg Administration Building/Alternative High School, and no elevated lead levels were discovered, officials said.

Testing at all 19 schools is being conducted to protect the community and to be in compliance with New Jersey Department of Education regulations, officials said. Testing is ongoing, and is expected to be complete by Dec. 31.

Harte Elementary School had the two highest results, at 43.6 ppb, and 37.3 ppb. Woodcrest Elementary had two results for 33 ppb. To view the full results chart, click here.

“Lead is most dangerous for pregnant women, infants and children under 6 years of age,” Cherry Hill Superintendent of Schools Joseph N. Meloche wrote in the letter posted online. “It can cause damage to the brain and kidneys, and can interfere with the production of red blood cells that carry oxygen to all parts of your body. Exposure to high levels of lead during pregnancy contributes to low birth weights and developmental delays in infants.”

In young children, it can result in lower IQs, reduced attention span, affect hearing and hurt performance in school, and high levels of exposure can result in brain damage. Adults with kidney problems and high blood pressure can be affected by low levels of lead.

Lead is unusual in drinking water, and typically ends up there as a result of materials containing lead in the water distribution system wearing away.

This includes lead-based sodder. Congress banned the use of lead-based sodder containing more than 0.2 percent of lead in 1986, but materials meeting the most updated standards are also subject to corrosion.

“When water stands in lead pipes or plumbing systems containing lead for several hours or more, the lead may dissolve into the drinking water,” Meloche said. “This means the first water drawn from the tap in the morning may contain fairly high levels of lead.”

Patch file photo