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Somerset County Educational Services Commission
Lead in Drinking Water Testing
December 2021 / January 2022
On July 13, 2016, the State Board of Education adopted regulations at N.J.A.C. 6A:26-12.4 Safe drinking water regarding the testing for lead in drinking water in public schools throughout New Jersey. The regulations were amended and readopted in August 2020. The amendment requires all covered entities to test for lead in drinking water every three years beginning with the 2021-2022 school year resulting in all covered entities being on the same testing cycle. The lead testing in school drinking water cycle runs from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022.
The Somerset County Educational Services Commission tested the eligible water outlets (sinks, water fountains and bubblers) at its school facility at 7 Finderne Avenue, Bridgewater, NJ 08807 in December 2021 and January 2022. The results of that testing follow.
Initial Sampling Date: 12/29/2021
Results Report Date: 1/4/2022
Summary of Test Activities and Results
Samples were drawn from 34 cold water outlets at the school. The water was undisturbed from 3:52 PM on 12/28/2021 until first draw at 8:17 AM on 12/29/2021 (16 hrs, 25 mins).
Samples were taken from classroom sinks and corridor water fountains. If the classroom sink had a water fountain/bubbler that was teed off of the cold line that feeds the faucet, the sample was taken from the water fountain/bubbler as per direction of Laronda at NJ DEP (609-292-2957) on 12/16/2021.
Samples were delivered by John Rotola to Garden State Laboratories, Inc, 2050 Route 31 North, Glen Gardner, NJ on 12/29/2021.
Test results were received via email to [email protected] on 1/4/2022.
The test results found one water outlet exceeded the maximum allowable lead threshold of 15 milligrams per liter (ug/L). Sample S-FL1-224 tested at 45.1 milligrams per liter (ug/L). The outlet was turned off on 1/4/2022. GS Labs advised that there could have been a contaminant in the sample that caused it to be the only sample in the building that exceeded the limit.
Follow-Up Sampling Date: 1/6/2022
Follow-Up Results Report Date: 1/12/2022
The state guidelines indicate that for any samples that exceed the lead threshold a flush sample may be drawn and sent for analysis. Since room 224 exceeded the lead limit an initial draw and a flush sample were taken on 1/6/2022 and submitted to the Garden State Laboratories for analysis.
Two samples were drawn from room 224 on 1/6/2022. Water was undisturbed from 4:35 PM on 1/5/2022 until 6:58 AM on 1/6/2022 (9 hrs, 29 mins). A second initial draw was taken at 7:04 AM on 1/6/2022 and a flush sample was taken at 7:05 AM on 1/6/2022. These samples were delivered by John Rotola to Garden State Laboratories, Inc, 2050 Route 31 North, Glen Gardner, NJ on 1/6/2022. The results were received on 1/12/2022. The initial draw tested 13.3 milligrams per liter and the flush sample test result was 3.19 milligrams per liter, both samples below the 15 milligrams per liter threshold. The water at this location was turned on again on 1/13/2022.
Conclusion
All water outlets at the Somerset County ESC tested below the lead limit and are available for use. As per DOE regulations, the next test will be conducted during the 2024 – 2025 school year.