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DEP HOLDS
PUBLIC MEETING
RELEASES CAMDEN WATER TESTING RESULTS (02/68)
TRENTON---New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bradley M.
Campbell will hold a community meeting to
present results of drinking water tests
performed by the state at 87 private homes,
schools and community centers in the City
of Camden. The meeting will be held
at 6 p.m. Thursday, August 15 at the Rutgers
Camden Campus. DEP also will hold an availability
session from 4 to 6 p.m. to discuss drinking
water quality results with residents whose
water was tested. "The McGreevey Administration
made an early commitment to the residents
of Camden to address environmental justice
issues that included taking action on drinking
water safety," said Campbell. "We
are following through with that promise,
working with Mayor Faison and other elected
officials. We have tested residents' homes,
schools, community and day care centers,
churches and businesses to ensure a safer
city in which to live." DEP will work with city
and school officials to review existing
drinking water data and take necessary measures
to ensure a safe water supply before school
opens in September. These measures will
include further testing in Camden schools
and private homes. The Department conducted
drinking water tests from March through
June 2002 for lead, copper, iron, manganese,
chromium, volatile organic compounds, mercury
and total coliform at various locations.
Out of the 39 private homes and businesses
tested, seven showed lead levels above the
state action level, one had elevated copper
levels and one had both lead and cooper
above the standard. Piping within the water
distribution system and household plumbing
is the source of the lead and copper. In
addition, 14 private homes and businesses
showed manganese levels above state standards
and seven had elevated iron levels. Elevated
levels of iron and manganese in water cause
an unpleasant color or taste, but will not
cause health problems. Out of the 48 schools,
day care and community centers tested, 46
met safe drinking water standards for all
contaminants measured, while two require
re-testing due to a sampling error. "A majority of the
samples taken did not indicate unsafe levels
of contamination. The eight properties with
elevated lead levels were moderately above
the safe drinking water standard and some
follow up tests were below our action level,"
said Campbell. "Nevertheless, because
the risk for multiple exposures to lead
is greater in the urban environment, I am
concerned for children growing up in a historically
industrial area where lead in soil, lead-based
paint in the home and lead found in drinking
water can negatively affect development,"
said Campbell. Campbell said the Department
is working to provide educational materials
to residents, community leaders and school
officials about how they can improve water
quality to reduce potential exposure to
lead or copper contamination. In high doses,
copper has been shown to cause stomach and
intestinal distress, liver and kidney damage,
and anemia. "The risk present
in homes and businesses with elevated lead
and copper levels can be completely eliminated
by following common sense measures like
letting tap water run for about 30 seconds
or until the temperature cools," Campbell
said. "This is necessary before drinking
or cooking anytime the water in a faucet
has gone unused for more than six hours,
usually in the morning and after work or
school. And certain precautions should be
taken when using hot water because it can
dissolve lead more quickly than colder water." "The Department is
working with the Camden Water Department
to begin replacing lead piping and other
infrastructure using $6.5 million in state
loans in the next few weeks," said
Campbell. "The Camden Water Department
has been replacing and relining its water
distribution system over the past several
years, which includes $16.8 million in completed
projects." DEP also is consulting
with the Camden Water Department to address
elevated levels of iron and manganese that
can dissolve from old cast iron pipes. This
effort includes reviewing the water utility's
treatment process. Flushing water lines
with fire hydrants and reducing the amount
of iron and manganese that dissolves into
the water will minimize discoloration, odor
and taste problems. (The meeting location
at the Rutgers Camden Campus is 401 Penn
Classroom. The entrance is located on the
side of the Paul Robeson Library on North
Fifth Street. The classroom is on the fourth
floor.) | 
