Haworth-based Suez of North America, which serves 57 municipalities in Bergen and Hudson counties, needs to notify customers of its lead service lines providing water and to replace its lead lines “as soon as possible.” That’s according to Fifth District Democratic U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, who told Northern Valley Press that he connected with Suez officials Jan. 22, immediately after Suez disclosed high lead levels in some customers’ drinking water.
I am deeply committed to protecting our communities from lead and other dangerous contaminants, which can be harmful to children and seniors especially.” Suez plans ‘aggressive effort’ Suez spokeswoman Debra Vial said 2019 will be a year focused on eliminating lead service lines.
Gottheimer making requests Gottheimer said he would ask Suez whether a finding of elevated lead in drinking water test results would expedite lead line removals for customers experiencing such levels exceeding federal standards.
Following Suez’s revelation Jan. 16 that a state-mandated drinking water quality sampling showed 16 of 108 homes in Bergen and Hudson counties had elevated lead levels in drinking water, Gottheimer called on Suez to take five immediate steps “to address the threat of lead in our drinking water and the serious risks it poses for children and families in the local community.” Despite repeated requests, at the Jan. 16 news conference and follow-up emails, Suez declined to provide details of specific towns where homes showed elevated lead levels, nor would it provide numbers of Suez-owned lead service lines for Pascack and Northern Valley towns.
Gottheimer wants Suez to: • Provide its customers self assessment information, as many customers are unaware they have lead pipes in their homes; • Publically disclose the action plan required by NJDEP; • Review and revise its timetable to fully replace lead pipes; • Notify residents, as well as account holders, so that renters may have immediate access to information; and • Ensure that information and test results shared with customers be provided in clear, easy to understand language.
In addition to lead dissolving or corroding from lead lines into drinking water, a key variable affecting corrosion is the chemicals Suez uses as part of its corrosion control treatment program.
How many lead lines?
Since Jan. 16, she said, 9,000 customers visited Suez’s website to check on their service line, and the utility fielded 3,500 phone calls and 480 emails on the subject and set 460 appointments to test drinking water.
She said the utility replaces 7 percent of lead service lines yearly and requests local officials notify them when service lines are exposed due to road work so they can check if lead lines are present.
Suez also provides do-it-yourself information on its website to help customers determine if their water service line—which runs from the curb line to their home—might contain lead.