BY MICHAEL OLOHAN
OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
HAWORTH, N.J.—Under pressure from local officials and state regulators following high lead levels in about 15 percent of drinking water samples, Suez Water announced an expedited lead service line replacement program to remove 25 percent of lead service lines in 2019.
The expedited lead service line replacement program, announced by a Suez statement March 21, commits the utility to replace 25 percent of its lines—nearly 2,400 lead lines in 2019—by targeting 14 municipalities in Hudson and Bergen counties.
Alpine, Old Tappan and River Vale are being targeted for “smaller pockets of lead service lines” by the expedited Suez water service line replacement effort.
Previously, Suez said the utility replaces 7 percent of lead service lines yearly, which meant it would have taken them about 14 years to replace all Suez-owned lead service lines.
In mid-January, the utility held a press conference to announce high elevated lead level readings in drinking water—above 15 parts per billion—in 16 of 108 homes tested throughout Bergen and Hudson counties. The Haworth-based Suez North America serves 57 municipalities in both counties.
Since the January announcement, Suez has notified every municipality and customers of the high lead level results and provided information on testing water and identifying lead service lines. A Suez spokeswoman said in February that nearly 10,000 customers had visited its website for lead water testing information, and Suez answered thousands of phone calls about lead testing.
100 lines replaced weekly
“More than a dozen crews are mobilizing across Bergen and Hudson counties in a sweeping attack on lead service lines, the pipes that connect water mains in the street to individual homes. Overall, as many as 100 lead lines will be replaced each week—approximately 2,400 by the end of the year. The $15 million project will remove 50,000 feet of lead from the system,” said a Suez statement issued March 21.
Suez said within weeks, replacement work will start in eight municipalities with “the highest number of lead service lines” including Bogota, Hackensack, North Bergen, Ridgefield Park, Rutherford, Teaneck, Union City and West New York.
“As the project ramps up, multiple crews will be replacing the utility’s lines in every town, every day,” notes the Suez statement.
In addition, other towns with “smaller pockets of lead service lines” including Alpine, Lodi, Old Tappan, River Vale, Upper Saddle River and Wallington are being targeted.
‘Working with towns’
Asked about a timeline for lines’ replacement in Alpine, Old Tappan and River Vale, Suez spokeswoman Debra Vial said “we have been working with those towns and officials in preparation for the work…our goal in those towns with smaller pockets is to remove all the lead from the systems. That should be accomplished in some towns this year,” she emailed March 21.
During its January disclosure of elevated lead levels, Suez said approximately 5 percent of homes—about 8,500—have lead service lines between the street and home and 15 percent have lead goosenecks, which is flexible piping that connects a street water main to a service line leading to a home.
From the main water line to the curb, the service line is owned by Suez; customers own the service line from the curb into the home. Moreover, lead pipes, lead solder, and lead fixtures in the home may be additional sources of lead contamination.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has set the maximum contaminant level goal for lead in drinking water at zero because lead is a toxic metal that can harm people—affecting cognitive abilities—at even low exposure levels.
Lead is persistent and bioaccumulates in the body over time. Although children are at increased risk of effects of lead poisoning, exposure via drinking contaminated water can also sicken adults, the EPA says online.
Suez provides drinking water to approximately 200,000 homes and businesses in Bergen and Hudson counties.
Suez said in addition to its expedited effort to remove 25 percent of utility-owned lead service lines this year, it is working with Bergen County to replace lead service lines in coordination with road construction projects, and local road improvement projects in Little Ferry and Rutherford.
‘Not in water supply’
“The [lead] issue is not in the water supply. There is no detectable level of lead in the water leaving the treatment plant and no lead in the water mains,” said a Suez release. As Suez works to replace its lead service lines, homeowners are strongly encouraged to have their side of the service line and internal plumbing inspected for lead by a licensed plumber,” notes a Suez spokeswoman.
‘Actually disappointed’
Old Tappan Mayor John Kramer said he was not aware of being contacted by Suez or that the borough would be a focus for 2019 lead line removal.
“I’m actually disappointed to hear that we’re one of the towns suffering from this but I’m pleased to hear that we’re one of the towns to be served first,” said Kramer when informed of Suez’s expedited replacement plan.
He said he was aware Suez was being urged to speed up its lead line replacement efforts, as almost a dozen municipalities passed resolutions “demanding” the utility expedite lead line replacements.
“They’re doing some public relations work now…and I’m pleased to see that they’re moving in that direction,” Kramer added.
Alpine mayor reacts
“In a nutshell, we’re glad that they’re going to do it and we want it to be corrected as soon as possible,” said Alpine Mayor Paul Tomasko.
Tomasko said he reached out to Suez following a reporter’s phone call to learn more about the replacement program. He said he was not notified by Suez in advance of the Suez announcement.
Tomasko said the borough would do all it could “to facilitate the process” to replace lead water service lines and reach out to Suez to help expedite the local work.
According to Suez, lead pipes were used for water service lines for “many decades” since the piping could be bent to connect to a main or a home.
The utility notes “water samples from properties with lead lines, fixtures or plumbing have routinely tested within safe standards.”
Homes built after 1986 are unlikely to have lead service lines or plumbing as lead use was outlawed by federal law that year.
Following January’s elevated lead results, Suez said customers can find out if they are served by a utility-owned lead line or gooseneck by checking their online account, visiting SUEZWQ.com or mysuezwater.com/njwq or emailing Suez at sueznjcustserv@suez-na.com or calling customer service at (800) 422-5987. Suez offers free drinking water test kits to customers with a Suez-owned lead line or gooseneck. If the test result is above drinking water lead standards, Suez provides a Brita water pitcher and filter to the customer to remove approximately 99 percent of lead.
Suez conducts a corrosion control program that provides an additive coating to help minimize lead from dissolving and entering drinking water.