High Levels Of Lead Found In Englewood Hospital Water

ENGLEWOOD, N.J. — High levels of lead were found in water at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center and the hospital has switched to using bottled water as a result.

The state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) informed the hospital Thursday that water samples tested there Dec. 21 from some of the hospital's eight buildings that exceeded the federal action level of 15 parts per billion, the hospital said in a statement.

The highest level of lead the DEP found at the hospital was 1,206 parts per billion, according to a report on NorthJersey.com. Other samples tested as high as 142 and 161 parts per billion, the report said.

A DEP spokesperson could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday.

The highest level registered at the hospital complex was 1,206 parts per billion, according to data on the DEP website. Some other samples taken on Dec. 21 tested as high as 142 and 161 parts per billion.

The hospital has switched to using bottled and tank water throughout the campus, including for all patient and employee use and in the kitchen during meal preparation.

The hospital is working with the DEP to determine the sources of the lead and "remedy the issue," officials said.

The NJDEP has confirmed the source water, from the Suez water utility, does not have lead in it, which means the lead may be coming from the hospital's pipes or water fixtures.

Anyone with questions may call a hotline the hospital has established for this situation at 201-894-3446.

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