Newark’s Water Supply Causes Alert In Belleville: Officials

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Belleville residents with severely compromised immune systems, those who have an infant, pregnant women and senior citizens may face some risk from their local drinking water, which is purchased from the Newark Water Department, according to municipal authorities.

The Belleville Public Works Department issued an alert on Dec. 29, stating that the municipal water supply recently tested below the acceptable limits for “disinfectant residual,” the amount of chlorine or related disinfectant present in the pipes of the distribution system.

Belleville water officials stressed that the situation is not an emergency.

“If it had been, you would have been notified within 24 hours,” the Dec. 29 municipal notice states.

“There is nothing you need to do,” the Belleville Water Department stated, adding that bacteria was not found in water samples taken during the testing timeframe. “You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective actions. If you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor.”

However, town officials had the following caveat for residents.

“During the months of June 2016 thru October 2016, disinfectant residual was undetectable in more than 5% of samples. The standard is that disinfectant may be undetectable in no more than 5% of samples each month for two months in a row.”

“If the amount of disinfectant is too low, organisms could grow in the pipes,” officials added. “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. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.”

For more information, Belleville residents can contact Thomas Herits at 973-450-3414.

WHERE DOES BELLEVILLE GET ITS WATER?

According to the 2015 Newark Water Quality Report, the city supplies water to more than 500,000 people in 10 local communities.

The Newark water supply – which ultimately feeds Belleville - comes from reservoirs in the Pequannock and Wanaque watersheds that cover 150 square miles of forestland in Morris, Sussex and Passaic counties.

“We purchase our water from the City of Newark,” Township Manager Mauro Tucci told the Belleville Times. “We’re required to report it, but unfortunately we don’t have the responsibility for chlorinating the water.”

Belleville’s most recent water reports and town announcements about water quality can be seen here.

WHAT’S BEING DONE?

“We are sampling the treated water we purchase from the Newark Water Department for disinfectant levels and presence of coliform bacteria,” Belleville officials stated in their Dec. 29 notice.

“Disinfectant residual levels since November 2016 have been improving as the temperature of the water we purchase from the Newark Water Department decreases,” officials wrote.

Town officials have released other recent notices about other actions involving chlorine in the municipal water supply.

In May of 2016, Belleville officials stated that the town’s water had been “violating drinking water requirements” over the past year.

“We are required to monitor your drinking water for specific contaminants on a regular basis,” officials wrote. “Results of regular monitoring are an indicator of whether or not our drinking water meets health standards. During October 2015, we did not complete all monitoring for chlorine and therefore cannot be sure of the quality of your drinking water during that time. We are required to collect 40 routine samples per month. In October 2015, we only collected 20 samples. We collected the additional 20 samples on Nov. 4, 2015.”

Town officials added:

“There is nothing you need to do at this time. You may continue to drink the water. If a situation arises where the water is no longer safe to drink, you will be notified within 24 hours. The Water Department began monitoring monthly for chlorine on Nov. 12, 2015 and will continue to follow our required monitoring schedule.”

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