As you may be aware, all New Jersey Schools are mandated to conduct lead in water testing and reporting requirements by 2024/2025 to ensure the safety of drinking water for all students and staff. These include:
- All New Jersey public school districts,
- Charter and Renaissance schools,
- Jointure and Educational Services Commissions,
- Approved private schools for students with disabilities operating under contract to provide educational services for NJ public school districts,
- State-funded early childcare facilities (including contracted childcare and Head Start programs),
- and Receiving schools as defined by N.J.A.C. 6A:14-7.1(a)
According to the updated NJDOE requirements issued in January 2021, New Jersey schools are mandated to test drinking water outlets every third school year, starting from the 2021-2022 school year, with subsequent testing occurring in the 2024-2025 school year. Additionally, any modifications to plumbing or service lines that may impact lead levels necessitate an update to the testing plan.
Similarly, testing for water in child care centers is required prior to their license renewals every three years.
TTI is committed to upholding the highest standards of testing protocols, adhering closely to the recommended practices outlined by authoritative bodies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the NJDEP Division of Water Supply & Geoscience. We follow the EPA’s 3 T’s for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water (October 2006) and NJDEP’s guidance for schools and childcare facilities.
To ensure accurate assessments, TTI will utilize a previously prepared and updated sampling plan and Quality Assurance Prevention Plan (QAPP) if available. Any changes to building layout, such as room numbers or names, must be reflected in these documents.
For optimal testing conditions, water samples must be collected before the facility opens and before any water is used. We recommend allowing the water to sit in the pipes unused for a minimum of 8 hours but not exceeding 48 hours prior to sampling. TTI will coordinate sampling schedules to align with early morning hours before school opening, and during extended break periods, flushing of the system will be the responsibility of the district or school.
We understand the importance of ensuring safe drinking water for students and staff, and we are dedicated to assisting your district in achieving compliance with lead in water testing requirements.
For MEMBERS OF CCESC: Our proposals can be aligned with the NJDOE-approved Camden County Educational Services Commission Co-Op #66CCESP for Environmental Services, specifically designated under TTI RFP#FY23-02. As a member of CCESC, you have direct access to these services through TTI, streamlining the process for your district. For more information about CCESC visit: https://ttienvinc.com/blog/tti-environmental-joins-ccesc-co-op-as-environmental-service-provider/
For more information regarding testing in all schools visit: https://www.nj.gov/education/lead/
For more information regarding child/daycare centers visit:https://www.nj.gov/dep/watersupply/pw_child.html and/or https://www.nj.gov/dep/watersupply/pdf/ccr-sdw-checklist.pdf
For more information on TTI’s services or to request a proposal contact: Tim Popp, VP Environmental Consulting at timp@ttienv.com or Karen Buniak, VP Business Development at karenb@ttienv.com
