An automated voice message sent to district parents Monday in connection with the elevated levels of lead found found at district schools was sent by mistake, officials say.
NEWARK -- An automated voice message sent to district parents Monday evening in connection with the elevated levels of lead found in drinking water at 30 district schools was sent by mistake, a district spokeswoman said.
The message outlines blood testing services provided by the district to the families of children attending the affected schools, according to audio obtained by NJ Advance Media.
While intended for the parents of children at the 30 affected schools, the message was instead sent to families district-wide due to an error in the calling software, said spokeswoman Dreena Whitfield.
A second voice message alerting parents that the first was sent in error was issued to parents Tuesday morning, she added.
The mistake comes as school officials are in the process of testing the drinking water at all district buildings. At this stage in the process, Whitfield said there's no indication that the water contamination extends beyond the 30 schools already identified as having elevated levels of lead.
The district has offered optional blood testing to parents interested in having their children tested for potential lead poisoning. A total of 130 students were tested last week when testing began at two Early Childhood School locations, district officials said.
The next round of students' testing will be available over the course of the next week.
In the wake of the discovery of the lead contamination, at-large Newark Municipal Councilman Eddie Osborneon on Monday called for independent lead testing of the city's water system.
City Communications Director Frank Baraff on Monday said the city conducts regular testing and "there is not a lead problem with City water."
Over the last two weeks, the state Department of Environmental Protection has said the Newark Water Department's source water is clean and safe to drink.
In most cases where lead is found in drinking water, the lead enters through the water delivery system by leaching from either lead pipes, household fixtures containing lead, or lead solder, the department has said.
Staff reporter Bill Wichert contributed to article
Vernal Coleman can be reached at vcoleman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @vernalcoleman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.