Social Justice
Newark, NJ is having a water crisis just like Flint
30 schools in Newark, NJ can’t use the facet water because lead has been found in the water system

30 schools in Newark, NJ can’t use the facet water because lead has been found in the water system.
Newark water problems
Officials have told the schools to stop using the water, immediately.
In a joint statement with Newark Public Schools released Wednesday, the state Department of Environmental Protection said recent testing found lead levels to be at “action level” – a threshold requiring additional testing, monitoring and remediation.
City schools
Parents have been notified of the elevated lead levels, the Star-Ledger reported. The city’s schools will remain in session, but drinking fountains have been temporarily shut off at the affected schools. Replacement drinking water, as well as cooking water for cafeterias, has been made available from water coolers and cases of bottled water, district and DEP officials said.
The emergency in Newark comes days the Flint, MI water crisis was highlighted in the presidential debate in the Michigan Primary. In Flint, a switch in water distributors in 2014 caused major damage to the city’s infrastructure. Pipes had been leaking dangerous levels of lead into water supplied to homes, businesses and schools.
Lead poisoning which can cause irreversible damage to cognitive function children, is a major problem in poor and minority communities. An advocacy group recently singled out Newark as one of 11 New Jersey communities in which children reported higher levels of lead in their bodies than in Flint, according to the Star-Ledger. However, the higher levels were attributed to young children ingesting lead from paint found in older homes rather than water.
Officials said they are working with the State Health Department to sample water and its entry points at all public and charter schools in the Newark district. Meanwhile, the Community Food Bank of New Jersey and other organizations are sending cases of bottled water to the affected schools.
----------------------------------------------------------
Connect with Unheard Voices on X, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube
Download the app on Google Play or ITunes.
----------------------------------------------------------
Unheard Voices Magazine is a news reporting platform covered under Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.
-
News1 week ago
South Carolina veteran dies on his birthday while saving 13-year-old boy from drowning
-
Crime & Justice2 weeks ago
Twin brothers miss their flight to Boston, later found dead in Georgia mountains
-
Black And Missing1 week ago
Update: The body of missing Ohio 13-year-old has been found; her father charged for her murder
-
Health & Wellness2 weeks ago
21-year-old man becomes first in New York to be cured of sickle cell anemia
-
Education1 week ago
Teacher ordered to remove inclusive signs from classroom; GoFundMe raises more than $15k to support diversity and inclusion
-
Crime & Justice2 days ago
Authorities release cause of death for Kei’Mani Latigue
-
In Memoriam5 days ago
Brothers from New Jersey killed in Philadelphia highway crash
-
Culture4 weeks ago
Altadena family spanning generations lost 20 homes in Los Angeles wildfires