Bill Text: NJ S1831 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires institutions of higher education to test for lead in drinking water and disclose test results.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-02-24 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee [S1831 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-S1831-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JOSEPH P. CRYAN
District 20 (Union)
SYNOPSIS
Requires institutions of higher education to test for lead in drinking water and disclose test results.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning lead in drinking water at institutions of higher education and supplementing Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Each institution of higher education shall undertake periodic testing of each drinking water outlet used at the institution for the presence of lead. Each test for lead shall be conducted by a laboratory certified for this purpose by the Department of Environmental Protection, and in accordance with the sampling and testing methods specified in the technical guidance. The initial tests for lead shall be conducted no later than 90 days after the effective date of this act and subsequent testing shall be conducted every five years thereafter.
b. If testing conducted pursuant to subsection a. of this section reveals an elevated lead level at a drinking water outlet, the institution of higher education shall immediately close off access to that outlet and report the test results to the department. The institution, in consultation with the department, shall conduct follow-up testing, as provided in the technical guidance, to determine the source of the lead, and take appropriate remedial measures to ensure that students, faculty, staff, and the public are not exposed to water with an elevated lead level. Such remedial measures may include, but need not be limited to: permanently shutting or closing off access to the drinking water outlet; providing an alternative source of water; manual or automatic flushing of the drinking water outlet; installing and maintaining a filter at the drinking water outlet; and repairing or replacing the drinking water outlet, plumbing, or service line contributing to the elevated lead level.
c. Each institution of higher education shall post on its Internet website, within 30 days after completion of the testing required pursuant to subsection a. of this section, the results of the tests, and any measures taken or proposed to remediate a drinking water outlet found to be contributing to an elevated lead level in drinking water.
d. The department, in consultation with the Secretary of Higher Education, shall, within 30 days after the effective date of this act, provide to each institution of higher education the technical guidance, a list of each laboratory in the State certified to conduct lead testing, and any other information deemed appropriate by the department.
e. As used in this section:
"Department" means the Department of Environmental Protection.
"Drinking water outlet" means any water fountain, faucet, or tap regularly used for drinking or food preparation, including ice-making and hot drink machines.
"Elevated lead level" means a lead concentration in drinking water that exceeds the standard therefor established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, or the department, whichever is more stringent.
"Technical guidance" means the technical guidance for reducing lead in drinking water at schools issued by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, or more protective guidance issued by the department.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would require institutions of higher education to undertake periodic testing of each drinking water outlet used by the institution for the presence of lead. Each test for lead would have to be conducted by a certified laboratory, in accordance with the sampling and testing methods specified in the technical guidance for reducing lead in drinking water at schools issued by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, or more protective guidance issued by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The initial tests for lead would be conducted within 90 days after the effective date of the bill, and subsequent tests would be conducted every five years.
Under the bill, if testing reveals an elevated lead level at a drinking water outlet, the institution of higher education would be required to immediately close off access to that outlet and report the test results to the DEP. The institution of higher education, in consultation with the DEP, would be required to conduct follow-up testing to determine the source of the lead, and take appropriate remedial measures to ensure that students, faculty, staff, and the public are not exposed to water with an elevated lead level. These measures include permanently shutting or closing off access to the drinking water outlet, providing an alternative source of water, manual or automatic flushing, installing and maintaining a filter, and repairing or replacing the drinking water outlet, plumbing, or service line.
The bill would direct the DEP, in consultation with the Secretary of Higher Education, to provide to each institution of higher education the technical guidance, a list of each laboratory in the State certified to conduct lead testing, and any other relevant information. Finally, the bill would require each institution to post on its Internet website, within 30 days after completion of the testing, the results of the tests, and any measures being taken or proposed to remediate a drinking water outlet found to be contributing to an elevated lead level.
