The water group suing Newark over elevated levels of lead in its tap water wants city officials to provide bottled water for its most vulnerable residents.
She worried the city’s fixes would take too long; residents need immediate access to safe drinking water while the federal lawsuit winds its way through court, Imperiale said.
Newark has reported elevated levels of lead in its tap water for the last 18 months, according to state data.
In Newark, one July sample recorded lead levels at 250 parts per billion — more than 16 times the federal action level, data show.
Officials blame the city’s old lead service lines — that connect publicly-owned water mains to each property — for the problems.
"We sell water from our system to other municipalities, including Pequannock Township, Bloomfield, Nutley, Belleville, Elizabeth, and Wayne.
The city does not own Newark’s lead service lines, which means property owners are responsible for any replacements costs.
"The city has an obligation to be treating the water properly such that it’s not corrosive," Imperiale said.
The NRDC motion asks the city to: Respond to all residents requesting tap water testing in an expedited manner and provide results within a week.
Open drinking water resource centers where residents can request water testing or pick up filters or bottled water.