Required Lead Sampling is Complete and Village of South Orange Water Meets Standards
South Orange, N.J. (October 22, 2020) –New Jersey American Water recently announced it has completed its required lead and copper sampling for 2020 and all systems tested meet state water quality regulations. The company tested 13 water systems that are required to be tested between June and September, including the Village of South Orange system, and all results show compliance with safe drinking water guidelines for lead and copper.
The Village’s water system is operated and maintained by New Jersey American Water through a contract with American Water Contract Services. Following required testing, New Jersey American Water reported to the Village and the NJ Department of Environmental Protection that the water system meets or surpass all water quality regulations, including those related to lead and copper.
“New Jersey American Water routinely tests and monitors the drinking water leaving the treatment facilities and at different distribution points through the system – and we provide corrosion control treatment where needed – and these specific lead and copper testing results show our treatment processes are working,” said Robert Schaefer, senior director of North Operations for New Jersey American Water. “While these results will be included in our annual Water Quality Reports in June, we wanted to share this news with our customers now so they can feel confident that their water is safe to drink.”
South Orange Village President, Sheena C. Collum added, "Every time I pour a glass of water I feel better knowing that the professionals at New Jersey American Water are watching our backs in South Orange and ensuring that everyone in the Village receives high quality water they can trust through rigorous testing in partnership with our local Water Utility. Our residents have enough to worry about in these tough times so I'm glad that water quality isn't one of them."
Water Quality Reports, which are available online and also in printed copies upon request, give an overview of local drinking water sources for each community and detail the extensive testing conducted on the water delivered by the company each year. South Orange residents can access their water quality report online at www.newjerseyamwater.com, under Water Quality, Water Quality Reports, select South Orange Village. A link to the report is also posted on the Village website at www.southorange.org, under Your Government, Water Utility, select Water Quality Testing.
Schaefer added that there are additional steps people can take to help further protect themselves from lead particles that could be present in indoor plumbing. “While we know that lead is not an issue in the treated water leaving our facilities or in the pipes in the distribution system, if your home was built before 1985, your plumbing system may contain leaded materials. To minimize possible exposure, experts recommend running your kitchen tap with cold water for 30 seconds to 2 minutes if it has gone unused for more than six hours. This is a simple way to reduce the risk of lead exposure from plumbing in older buildings.”
For more tips and information, visit www.newjerseyamwater.com/leadfacts.
New Jersey American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 2.8 million people. For more information, visit www.newjerseyamwater.com and follow New Jersey American Water on Twitter and Facebook.
With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 6,800 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to 15 million people in 46 states.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Denise Venuti Free Howard Levison
Director of Communications & External Affairs Water Utility Administrator
New Jersey American Water Township of South Orange Village
856-449-7357 // Denise.Free@amwater.com 973-378-7715 x 7760 // hlevison@southorange.org
South Orange, N.J. (October 22, 2020) –New Jersey American Water recently announced it has completed its required lead and copper sampling for 2020 and all systems tested meet state water quality regulations. The company tested 13 water systems that are required to be tested between June and September, including the Village of South Orange system, and all results show compliance with safe drinking water guidelines for lead and copper.
The Village’s water system is operated and maintained by New Jersey American Water through a contract with American Water Contract Services. Following required testing, New Jersey American Water reported to the Village and the NJ Department of Environmental Protection that the water system meets or surpass all water quality regulations, including those related to lead and copper.
“New Jersey American Water routinely tests and monitors the drinking water leaving the treatment facilities and at different distribution points through the system – and we provide corrosion control treatment where needed – and these specific lead and copper testing results show our treatment processes are working,” said Robert Schaefer, senior director of North Operations for New Jersey American Water. “While these results will be included in our annual Water Quality Reports in June, we wanted to share this news with our customers now so they can feel confident that their water is safe to drink.”
South Orange Village President, Sheena C. Collum added, "Every time I pour a glass of water I feel better knowing that the professionals at New Jersey American Water are watching our backs in South Orange and ensuring that everyone in the Village receives high quality water they can trust through rigorous testing in partnership with our local Water Utility. Our residents have enough to worry about in these tough times so I'm glad that water quality isn't one of them."
Water Quality Reports, which are available online and also in printed copies upon request, give an overview of local drinking water sources for each community and detail the extensive testing conducted on the water delivered by the company each year. South Orange residents can access their water quality report online at www.newjerseyamwater.com, under Water Quality, Water Quality Reports, select South Orange Village. A link to the report is also posted on the Village website at www.southorange.org, under Your Government, Water Utility, select Water Quality Testing.
Schaefer added that there are additional steps people can take to help further protect themselves from lead particles that could be present in indoor plumbing. “While we know that lead is not an issue in the treated water leaving our facilities or in the pipes in the distribution system, if your home was built before 1985, your plumbing system may contain leaded materials. To minimize possible exposure, experts recommend running your kitchen tap with cold water for 30 seconds to 2 minutes if it has gone unused for more than six hours. This is a simple way to reduce the risk of lead exposure from plumbing in older buildings.”
For more tips and information, visit www.newjerseyamwater.com/leadfacts.
New Jersey American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 2.8 million people. For more information, visit www.newjerseyamwater.com and follow New Jersey American Water on Twitter and Facebook.
With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 6,800 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to 15 million people in 46 states.
###
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Denise Venuti Free Howard Levison
Director of Communications & External Affairs Water Utility Administrator
New Jersey American Water Township of South Orange Village
856-449-7357 // Denise.Free@amwater.com 973-378-7715 x 7760 // hlevison@southorange.org