Bill > S1608

Introduced Session

This bill, to be known as the "Lead Education, Accountability, and Disclosure Act," would require public water systems to provide customers with certain information regarding lead in drinking water. Specifically, the bill would require public water systems to include information on lead in drinking water in their annual Consumer Confidence Reports. The federal "Safe Drinking Water Act" requires public water systems to deliver a Consumer Confidence Report, also known as a drinking water quality report, to their customers annually. The report provides customers with information on the quality of the drinking water they receive. For instance, the report contains information on the sources of a customer's drinking water, the level of contaminants detected in the customer's water, and the federal and State drinking water standards. This bill would require the Consumer Confidence Report to include information on the possible sources of lead in drinking water, including, but not necessarily limited to, lead service lines, pipes, and fixtures; the health effects of lead in drinking water; and measures a customer can take to reduce or eliminate lead in tap water. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) would be required to publish in the New Jersey Register the specific information required to be included in the Consumer Confidence Report under the bill. Additionally, under the bill, within 90 days after beginning water service to a new customer, the owner or operator of a public water system would be required to send the customer a notice, in writing, containing information on the possible sources of lead in drinking water, including, but not necessarily limited to, lead service lines, pipes, and fixtures; the health effects of lead in drinking water; and measures the customer can take to reduce or eliminate lead in tap water. If the public water system provides for, and the customer has requested, the ability to receive or access water bills in electronic format, the public water system would also be required to send the notice in electronic format. Under the bill, the term "new customer" would include any new residential, commercial, or institutional customer. The DEP would be required to publish in the New Jersey Register the form and manner of the notice required under the bill and the specific information to be included in the notice. The bill would require the owner or operator of a public water system to notify residents of any construction, maintenance, repair, or replacement of any lead service line or lead water main. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, construction activity to repair or replace lead service lines or lead water mains may loosen lead-containing particles in the water distribution system that end up in water consumed by nearby residents. Lead levels may be elevated for days or weeks following the repair or replacement of a lead service line and, particularly, a partial replacement of a lead service line. Under the bill, at least 48 hours prior to commencing any construction, maintenance, repair, or replacement of any lead service line or lead water main, the owner or operator of a public water system would be required to send a written notice to residents served by the lead service line or lead water main. This requirement would apply regardless of whether the work is emergency or routine in nature. The notice, to be developed by the DEP, would include: (1) notification that the planned work may loosen lead-containing particles and temporarily increase lead levels in the water; (2) the estimated length of time that lead levels may remain elevated; (3) general information on the possible sources of lead in drinking water, and the health effects of consuming lead-contaminated water; (4) measures residents can take to reduce or eliminate their exposure to lead in drinking water; and (5) a recommendation that any lead service line serving the property be fully replaced, and a list of available resources to assist in any replacement. Under the bill, the DEP would be required to publish in the New Jersey Register the form and manner of, and specific information to be included in, the notice required under the bill.

AI Summary

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Linda Greenstein (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee (on 02/14/2022)

Official Document