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Tests show water in Trenton schools have high lead levels

New tests results show that the lead levels in the drinking water of Trenton public schools is dangerously high. The district says that 20 out of the 26 public school buildings have at least one sink

News 12 Staff

Oct 13, 2016, 5:49 AM

Updated 2,750 days ago

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Tests show water in Trenton schools have high lead levels
New tests results show that the lead levels in the drinking water of Trenton public schools is dangerously high.
The district says that 20 out of the 26 public school buildings have at least one sink or water fountain with lead levels that are higher than the federal Environmental Protection Agency allows.
Under EPA guidelines, levels have to test below 15 parts per billion of lead. A sink at one Trenton high school had more than 100 times that level.
"I don't know what effects lead have on the body," says concerned Trenton resident Deeann Wright. "But I know it's not good."
A representative from Trenton schools was not available to comment on the tests due to the Yom Kippur holiday Wednesday.
Gov. Chris Christie expressed his concern and said that the state will do everything it can to make sure the children of New Jersey are safe from lead.
"Before the testing wasn't required and the fact is we wouldn't know what to deal with," the governor said. "Now we know. We'll make sure we get safe drinking water and we'll be able to make sure that any of the kids that need to be tested will be tested."
New Jersey recently passed regulations requiring all school districts to test their drinking water for high levels of lead.
Trenton public schools began testing for lead over the summer.


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