New Jersey does not currently required testing for lead in school drinking water. One state lawmaker says "what you don't know is what can kill you." Watch video
TRENTON -- In response to elevated lead levels found in water at New Jersey's largest school district, three state lawmakers want to require bi-annual water testing in all of the state's schools and provide up to $20 million to install water filters in certain school buildings.
The proposal, backed by state Senate President Stephen Sweeney and two Essex County lawmakers, would provide $3 million to reimburse schools for immediate water testing as well as mandatory tests conducted within 30 days of the start of the 2016-17 school year and again six months later.
As much as $20 million in additional state money would be provided to school buildings with lead pipes, lead solder or other fixtures containing lead so the schools can install filters on water fountains and sinks used for food preparation.
New Jersey does not currently require schools to test their water for lead, leaving each district to decide whether it wants to test and how often, the lawmakers said during a news conference on Monday.
While the water provided by local municipalities may be safe, some schools might have lead pipes or fixtures containing lead that can contaminate otherwise safe drinking water, Sweeney said.
"What you don't know is what can kill you," Sweeney said.
Which schools have elevated lead levels?
Elevated levels of lead were found recently in the drinking water at 30 buildings in Newark Public Schools, forcing those schools to use alternate water sources. Gov. Chris Christie and city officials have urged caution, with Christie saying the lead levels were "nowhere near crisis or dangerous levels."
But environmentalists said the tests in Newark's schools should serve as a "wake-up call" to a growing public health issue, and the contaminated water has heightened concerns about the safety of drinking water in schools.
Sweeney, state Sen. Ron Rice (D-Essex) and state Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex) didn't know that schools have not been required to test for lead, they said Monday. After learning about the contaminated water in Newark, Rice began asking who was responsible for water testing and changing filters, he said.
"I'm told that there is no law that mandates pretty much anything," Rice said. "I'm thinking, you've got to be kidding me."
The lawmakers' proposal would require the state departments of education and environmental protection to develop guidelines for school water testing. Schools would be mandated to provide a copy of the test results to both departments, make them available to the public and notify parents and guardians of the results.
Any school with high lead levels would be required to immediately provide alternative drinking water.
Schools with old pipes containing lead would be required to install water filters or other treatment devices and could seek state reimbursement. The state would fund the improvements using up to $20 million from its Clean Energy Fund.
"Lead is poisonous," Ruiz said. "But policy can be practice and we can prevent it."
At least some school districts, including Princeton Public Schools, have already announced they will test their drinking water for lead.
The initial testing may lead to discussions about whether schools need to replace old pipes, Ruiz said.
Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook.