Lead in Newark Water – Is It Safe to Drink?

It’s pretty well known that a human body is nearly entirely comprised of liquid – and to maintain the right balance, we need to drink lots of water. Thus, having household access to pure, safe water is crucial to function well. Many people install water filters in their homes in an attempt to make sure the water they consume is clean. However, if you cut corners and buy a cheap water filter, it likely won’t do a sufficient job removing heavy metals from the water.

Take, for instance, the Newark water crisis. You may have heard lots of people in the area debating if Newark, NJ, tap water is safe to drink. Unfortunately, Newark water contains lead and other harmful substances. To combat this, you need to be sure to have a high-quality filter installed. At High Water Standard, you can choose from an assortment of several of the best quality filters, designed to remove heavy metals like lead from your water.

Why Lead Water in Newark Is Dangerous

In 2017, the City of Newark discovered that some buildings had high levels of lead in the water – which, obviously, is unacceptable since lead is notoriously dangerous for pregnant women and young children. The Newark, NJ, water crisis has been ongoing since then, with many residents hesitant to consume Newark drinking water.

Newark contains two separate water service areas – the Wanaque and the Pequannock. The North Jersey Water Supply Commission oversees the Wanaque, and controls corrosion via orthophosphates. The treatment plant that oversees Pequannock water uses silica to control corrosion.

Essentially, because the old pipes have lead inside (they were actually made out of lead), this is causing the lead in Newark water. The only fix is to completely reinstall the piping. However, Newark is not undergoing the process to remove lead in Newark water, since it would be a huge, expensive project. So, Newark residents can either choose to move away or to try to reduce the impact.

Some people prefer drinking bottled water rather than drinking lead water in Newark, but this isn’t a practical solution to use for all of your water needs. Will you cook and wash dishes with bottled water? The only practical, working solution is to install a lead-targeting water filter. Do you know that different types of water filters can target different problem areas? If not, High Water Standard specialists have prepared a detailed guide on how to choose a water filter. Please, check it for more information or call our specialists to get a free consultation on your problem.

But, why would you want to filter out lead at all? Isn’t Newark, NJ tap water safe to drink? No; lead is quite a dangerous metal. Let’s take a closer look at why Newark lead water can hurt you.

Lead is a metal naturally found in the Earth’s crust, and its usage in construction has resulted in significant health problems. Even outside of Newark, water lead is a problem. The World Health Organization has outlined the following features of lead:

• It accumulates in your system, causing damage to multiple areas of your body. In particular, children are negatively affected.
• Lead spreads to your liver, brain, bones, and kidney. It can even be stored in your teeth! Testing for exposure is done by measuring the amount of lead in your blood.
• Lead stored in your bones can be transferred to a fetus during pregnancy.
• Exposure to lead can be prevented.

Young children absorb up to 5x as much lead from a source than adults do; this is why they are vulnerable to its dangerous effects. What’s more, children’s natural curiosity often causes them to ingest lead-coated objects (such as paint chips).

So, how much lead in water is safe? None! It is crucial that you filter your Newark drinking water as thoroughly as possible in order to avoid ingesting this toxic substance. We, at High Water Standard, would be happy to help you installing a reverse osmosis water filtration system, as it will get rid of lead and other dangerous substances.

Official Reaction

Newark officials denied the presence of the Newark water crisis for over a year, even though there was plenty of evidence to the contrary. Even though there was obviously lead in the drinking water in the city of Newark, the city’s website proudly proclaimed that their water was “absolutely safe to drink.”

Newark officials didn’t announce the presence of lead in municipal water until October of 2018. At that point, officials told residents that they should try to limit their exposure to the lead in Newark, NJ water.

The official announcement of the water crisis of Newark came after multiple education and environmental groups filed a Newark lead water lawsuit. The groups proclaimed that the water was dangerous, as it contained a large amount of lead. In order to be in compliance with the EPA, municipalities are required to monitor the level of lead (and other heavy metals) in their drinking water, in addition to maintaining corrosion control systems. The same regulation mandates that there may not be above 15 parts of lead per billion parts of water in more than 10% of collected samples.

According to the lawsuit, 20% of the collected samples exceeded the maximum threshold for lead particles. In some cases, the amount of lead was even 9 times more than the threshold. State officials were accused of breaking the law by neglecting the water treatment system, and also for ignoring the situation and not informing residents.

How to Reduce the Risk of the Newark, NJ, Water Crisis

Since our bodies accumulate lead, it is imperative for people to protect their own safety and avoid ingesting it. First and foremost, you will need to choose an effective filter for Newark water. As mentioned earlier, we recommend using a reverse osmosis system – its extra filtration stage will remove lead.

Keep in mind that boiling water isn’t going to reduce the toxins in Newark lead water. Installing a water filter is absolutely necessary – especially if you have young children. Going without a water filter will put their health at risk. What’s more, you can’t just install a cheap water filter and expect it to properly filter Newark drinking water. Many generic filters are completely useless when it comes to the Newark water situation. You must use a water filter that removes heavy metals, and that places a special focus on the lead.

We have installed water filters designed for use in New York and New Jersey for more than a decade. Our innovative Vita Black Shield water filter targets heavy metals. It has 6 filtering levels, 2 of which are dedicated to filtering out heavy metals. This is the perfect filter to use to combat the effects of the Newark water crisis. Even if you don’t live in Newark, water lead could still occur and must be filtered.

How does our Vita Black Shield heavy metal filter levels get the job done? The water moves through the first membrane, which filters out approximately 95% of heavy metals. The second filter takes care of deionization – which removes ions from heavy metals on a molecular level. This causes the remaining 99.999% of heavy metals to be removed.

Now, we understand that many families can’t afford to spend huge amounts of water on a water filtering system. This is why High Water Standard works hard to ensure that we offer the best cost-quality ratio. Check out the filters and prices we offer.

A Closer Look at Double Pass Reverse Osmosis System

We mentioned a double membrane process that filters out heavy metals. Now, let’s take a more in-depth look at how the process works.

With a double pass reverse osmosis system, water initially passes through the first membrane, which filters out the bulk of contaminants. The first passthrough will have a larger flow rate than the 2nd passthrough.

When the first pass is complete, the water is stored in a break tank and then filtered through the second membrane. That membrane takes care of deionization. Basically, it exchanges negative hydroxyl and positive hydrogen molecules in exchange for the water’s contaminant molecules – thus breaking down the remaining heavy metals concentration.

So, why are two membranes better than one? When you use a filter that only has one membrane dedicated towards heavy metals, you can expect 95% of heavy metals to be filtered. That remaining 5% is still enough to cause potential health problems – especially for pregnant women and young children. However, by using two membranes, you can increase that percentage all the way to 99.999%. To protect your health, two membranes’ filtering is the best choice.

Are You Ready to Start Drinking Safe Water?

We offer comprehensive water treatment services here at High Water Standard. Are you ready to protect your family and the environment? Don’t let the Newark water crisis bring you down. We can install the highest-quality water filters in your home. All of our systems are accompanied by a 30-day money-back guarantee! Get in contact with High Water Standard to schedule a free consultation. Safe water is just a message away!