All schools in New Jersey would have to immediately test drinking water for lead contamination under a bill being proposed by state lawmakers.
Senate President Steve Sweeney and Democratic state senators from Newark M. Teresa Ruiz and Ronald Rice outlined the measure at news conference Monday.
"It's a bigger problem than we realized," Sweeney said. "Our water's safe. Our water's clean. But some of the pipes we run water through have lead in them so we have to address the problem."
They say the legislation would allocate $3 million for testing and an additional $20 million for water filters. The lawmakers say they'll address the larger, and more expensive problem of replacing lead pipes and fixtures in schools after the testing gives them a better idea of what's needed.
Parents, like lawmakers, said they were surprised that the testing wasn't already required.
"I think it's crazy," said Newark mom Sade Clarke.
The legislation comes after Newark schools shut off sinks and fountains at 30 facilities earlier this month because of lead. But the lawmakers say the proposal applies to all schools, whether they're public, private or charter.
