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Child Care Centers

Home > How to Certify Safe Drinking Water is Being Provided

How to Certify Safe Drinking Water is Being Provided

All applicants, regardless of building use, must certify that the center provides safe drinking water before the DCF Office of Licensing will approve an application to operate a child care center.

  • If a Child Care Center is connected to a community water system, the Child Care Center shall provide such documentation:
    • the name of the community water system; and
    • copy of a recent water bill indicating service address of the Child Care Center; or
    • a letter from the public community water system certifying the service to the address of the Child Care Center
    • In addition, child care facilities that receive their water from a community water system must sample the facility for lead and copper, in accordance with N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.3(i)(5)(i). The results are to be submitted directly to DCF. Additional questions can be directed to your DCF Inspector or the DCF Office of Licensing, at 1-877-667-9845.
    • A list of certified laboratories for lead and copper can be obtained by phoning NJDEP's Office of Quality Assurance at (609) 292-3950 or a list of drinking water certified lead labs is available at https://www13.state.nj.us/DataMiner. Click "Search by Category", then select "Certified Laboratories" from the drop-down list, then click "Drinking Water Certified Lead Labs".
  • If the Child Care Center is not connected to a community water system, the Child Care Center shall demonstrate the following;
    • potable water which meets the Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) established for nontransient noncommunity water systems.
    • Analytical results should be submitted to the Bureau of Safe Drinking Water for determination of compliance with N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.3(i)(5)(iii).

    We strongly recommend you contact the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Bureau of Safe Drinking Water at (609) 292-5550, prior to sampling.

Sampling Procedures and Parameters
Sampling shall be conducted within three years prior to the date of application submission, except nitrates and coliform, for which the sampling shall have been conducted within 90 days prior to the date of application.

Note - if drinking water data (excluding radiological results) was used for a previous drinking water certification it may not be used towards a drinking quality certification for license renewal.

All analysis shall be conducted by a laboratory certified for appropriate drinking water parameters by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Office of Quality Assurance. A list of certified laboratories can be obtained by phoning NJDEP's Office of Quality Assurance at (609) 292-3950 or a list of drinking water certified lead labs is available at https://www13.state.nj.us/DataMiner. Click "Search by Category", then select "Certified Laboratories" from the drop-down list, then select the appropriate report.

Analytical methods and QA/QC protocols should be those used for compliance by community and nontransient noncommunity water systems as specified in the Federal and State Safe Drinking Water Act Regulations.

Analysis must be for the following parameters:

  • Nitrate
  • Coliform
  • If total coliform bacteria are detected, a test must also be conducted for E. coli
  • Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including all for which federal or New Jersey Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) exist
  • The following inorganic compounds (IOCs): antimony, arsenic, barium, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, cyanide, fluoride, mercury, selenium, thallium
  • The following radiological contaminants:
    • gross alpha particle activity, radium 226, radium 228, and uranium
    • analysis of radium 226 and uranium may not be necessary if the concentrations of gross alpha particle activity and radium 228 are sufficiently low
    • past radiological results may be acceptable for a renewal. Contact the Bureau of Safe Drinking Water at (609) 292-5550 or refer to the Checklist for Completing the Child Care Center Safe Drinking Water Requirements at https://www.state.nj.us/dep/watersupply/pw_child.html for further information.
  • Lead and copper.
    • location and number of samples shall be conducted as if the Child Care Center was classified as a non-transient noncommunity water system
    • all samples must be collected first draw (minimum 6 hour standing time in the entire system) and from approved cold-water sampling sites (kitchen tap, bathroom tap, or water fountain)
    • samples cannot be collected from water coolers or outside hose spigots
    • please consult with the laboratory prior to conducting the sampling
  • The following Synthetic Organic Chemicals (SOCs):
    • 1,2,3-Trichloropropane (1,2,3-TCP)
    • Ethylene Dibromide (EDB)
    • 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP)
  • Perfluorononanoic Acid (PFNA)

If the water supplied to the building is currently regulated as a noncommunity water system under the Federal and New Jersey Safe Drinking Water Act Regulations, the noncommunity water system name and unique PWSID (Public Water System Identification Number) should be provided.

In addition each drinking water certification application must be accompanied by a Checklist for Completing the Child Care Center Safe Drinking Water Requirements, which may be found at www.nj.gov/dep/watersupply/pw_child.html.

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