Lead Updates and Resources

In this section, you will find the latest updates on lead, as well as the status of corrosion control.

Ridgewood Water’s Background Information on Lead
As water passes through service connections and within the plumbing of old homes, water can absorb lead from the solder, fixtures, and pipes. It is possible that this can increase the potential for lead exposure in drinking water. Samples are collected from homes that are most susceptible to lead contamination based on the infrastructure and age of their home (state and federal requirements). In 2012, lead samples resulted in levels that exceeded the federal and state action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb) which triggered RW to provide corrosion control treatment into the distribution system.

Corrosion Control:
Lead contamination can occur when water is in contact with plumbing materials containing lead for several hours undisturbed.  Corrosion control is the treatment process in which small amounts of phosphates (approved by NJDEP and USEPA) are added to the water in order to prevent lead contamination.  The phosphates create a thin coating on the inside of plumbing materials, effectively preventing the corrosion of lead into the water.  This treatment has been fully implemented into the RW system since May, 2016 and has been very effective in lowering lead concentrations.

Lead Sampling Update
Ridgewood Water is happy to let our customers know that since the addition of corrosion control treatment to the RW distribution system in May 2016, lead levels have drastically declined as determined by our sampling program (see graph) as regulated by NJDEP. The sample results indicate that the corrosion control treatment has been extremely successful at reducing the levels of lead in drinking water, with 2019 samples producing the lowest levels of lead in Ridgewood Water’s history.

Did RW Request Lead Sampling at Your Home?
Have you received a letter from us requesting a sample and want to know why?- Click HERE

Water Testing Kits:
Discount water test kits are available from Ridgewood Water. Please call 201-670-5520 or visit Village Hall at 131 N. Maple Ave. Ridgewood, NJ 07450 for more information.

Resources:

Precautions
NJDEP Lead FAQ
How lead gets into your drinking water
State Certified Water Testing Laboratories
NJDEP information regarding lead in drinking water specific to Consumers, Schools and Childcares, and Public Water Systems