What to Know
- New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is calling for a sweeping $500 million bond to finance the replacement of lead pipes and lead paint across state
- The announcement comes two months after the issue surfaced in Newark with positive tests for lead in drinking water
- Murphy said the goal is to remove and replace all lead service lines across the state within the next 10 years
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is calling for a sweeping $500 million bond to finance the replacement of lead pipes and lead paint across the state.
The Democrat outlined his "comprehensive strategy" for dealing with the state's lead issue on Thursday, two months after the issue surfaced in Newark with positive tests for lead in drinking water.
The plan also calls on his Cabinet to come up with a publicly available lead testing strategy and an inventory of lead paint and plumbing. Only a handful of states require or do voluntary inventories of lead pipes leading to homes.
It's unclear whether the $500 million bond would be enough to finance the project entirely. Some estimates put the price tag of lead pipe replacement alone at $2 billion.
Murphy said the goal is to remove and replace all lead service lines across the state within the next 10 years.
"It is time for us to ensure that New Jerseyans are safe from lead exposure and that generations to come remain safe. Every lead service line we replace is a step forward. Every home we can ensure is “lead safe” is a step forward," he said.
