Mayor Ras Baraka announced today that the latest testing results of lead levels in Newark's water show a significant drop below federal exceedance levels.

Mayor Baraka says that almost 13,000 of Newark's nearly 19,000 lead lines have been replaced at this point.

The mayor also says the drop is due to the work of the city's Water and Sewer Department.

“It took us about three years to get to a point where we have begun testing in our levels and showing PPB below 15, that is a significant milestone for us in the city,” says Mayor Baraka. “This is not an opportunity for us to say the lead issue in Newark is finished, however, it is our opportunity to share good news in the spirit of the craziness that has been going on for a long time."

The lead levels do though need to be confirmed by the NJ DEP.