Recently, the result of an annual water quality testing in a New Jersey public school district was released to the public. The results indicated that some schools have been using water contaminated with dangerous levels of lead. It is not clear how long children and staff have been exposed to the contaminated water, but it brings a larger issue to the surface. Right now, water quality testing in schools is not required by state or federal environmental protection agencies. While it is done voluntarily on an annual basis, the results are typically not released to the public. How does lead get into drinking water? What are the effects of lead ingestion? Center of Disease Control How can you find out if your water is contaminated? EPA's action level is 15 parts per billion (ppb) The EPA recommends the following sites are priority sites for testing for lead in water in schools and child care centers :

• Drinking fountains
• Kitchen sinks
• Classroom combination sinks and drinking fountains
• Home economic rooms sinks
• Teacher's lounge sink
• Nurse's office sink
• Classroom sinks in special education classrooms
• Any sink known to be or visibly used for consumption (ex: coffee maker or cups are nearby)

About Matt Genna Matt Genna is the Health and Safety Project Manager at Partner Engineering and Science, Inc. Mr. Genna is responsible for the education and training of municipal, school, automotive, manufacturing and industrial employees in various regulations such as Hazard Communication, Bloodborne Pathogens, Lock out/Tag out, Confined Space Awareness and Asbestos Awareness. Additionally he is responsible for AHERA 6-month Periodic Surveillance, AHERA 3 year asbestos Re-Inspections in schools throughout New Jersey and sampling drinking water for lead content. Matt Genna Recently, the result of an annual water quality testing in a New Jersey public school district was released to the public. The results indicated that some schools have been using water contaminated with dangerous levels of lead. It is not clear how long children and staff have been exposed to the contaminated water, but it brings a larger issue to the surface. Right now, water quality testing in schools is not required by state or federal environmental protection agencies. While it is done voluntarily on an annual basis, the results are typically not released to the public. How does lead get into drinking water? What are the effects of lead ingestion? Center of Disease Control Environmental Protection Agency Newark Last year New Jersey New Jersey Flint MI How can you find out if your water is contaminated? EPA's action level is 15 parts per billion (ppb) The EPA recommends the following sites are priority sites for testing for lead in water in schools and child care centers :

• Drinking fountains
• Kitchen sinks
• Classroom combination sinks and drinking fountains
• Home economic rooms sinks
• Teacher's lounge sink
• Nurse's office sink
• Classroom sinks in special education classrooms
• Any sink known to be or visibly used for consumption (ex: coffee maker or cups are nearby)

About Matt Genna Matt Genna is the Health and Safety Project Manager at Partner Engineering and Science, Inc. Mr. Genna is responsible for the education and training of municipal, school, automotive, manufacturing and industrial employees in various regulations such as Hazard Communication, Bloodborne Pathogens, Lock out/Tag out, Confined Space Awareness and Asbestos Awareness. Additionally he is responsible for AHERA 6-month Periodic Surveillance, AHERA 3 year asbestos Re-Inspections in schools throughout New Jersey and sampling drinking water for lead content.