FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — May 12, 2026
New Report Urges Immediate Action to Protect New Jersey Students from Lead in Drinking Water
“Filter First” white paper outlines a statewide roadmap for faster remediation, stronger protections, and immediate use of certified filters in schools and childcare centers
TRENTON, NJ, May 12, 2026—New Jersey policymakers, schools, and childcare providers must take immediate action to protect children from lead exposure in drinking water. A proactive approach is necessary and can be achieved by point-of-use water filtration and ongoing filter maintenance.
A new white paper released today by Jersey Water Works and Lead-Free NJ calls on state leaders to take a Filter First approach. The paper outlines a practical, statewide roadmap to reduce exposure. Timely action is needed before the next round of state testing and compliance deadlines.
Schools can fund initial “Filter First” activities by applying for the School Lead Filters Program by September 30, 2026. Every NJ public school district has a funding allocation from the NJ Department of Education for reimbursement of point-of-use filtered bottle-filling stations and filtered faucets certified to reduce lead.
“Our students and staff should always have access to safe drinking water, free from lead and other contaminants. This program, established by a bill I sponsored in 2025, will help New Jersey schools fund the installation of water filters to meet this expectation,” said Assemblyman Schaer (D-Bergen, Passaic). “After this school year, I look forward to reviewing information from the NJDOE on the outcomes of the School Lead Filters Program and how much additional funding would be needed to meet total demand in all public schools”.
Lead exposure remains a persistent and preventable public health risk in New Jersey, particularly for young children. According to state estimates, drinking water can account for up to 20 percent of overall lead exposure and as much as 60 percent for infants. Even low levels of exposure can cause irreversible damage, including learning disabilities, developmental delays, and long-term health impacts.
Despite years of required testing, the report finds that many schools continue to identify elevated lead levels. In the most recent reporting cycle, more than 44 percent of schools still had outlets exceeding the state’s action level, underscoring gaps between identifying contamination and fixing it.
“Lead in drinking water is a direct threat to children’s health, and identifying it is only the first step,” said Yvette Jordan, Lead-Free NJ Advocacy Committee Co-Chair and retired educator. “Water filters are affordable, effective, and proactive – they stop lead before it has any chance of entering our children’s cups”.
A central recommendation of the report is adopting a “Filter First” strategy, which installs certified water filters at drinking water outlets as a preventive measure rather than waiting for elevated lead levels to trigger action. This approach provides immediate protection while longer-term infrastructure improvements move forward.
The report also highlights the limitations of current stopgap measures, such as bottled water, which are costly, unsustainable, and can introduce additional health and environmental risks. By contrast, point-of-use filtration offers a more reliable, cost-effective, and equitable solution that can be implemented quickly and maintained over time.
“Too often, when lead is found in school water fountains, the fountains are simply shut off, or bottled water is provided,” said Shereyl Snider, Lead-Free NJ Advocacy Committee Co-Chair and Community Organizer for East Trenton Collaborative. “This means that students have a harder time getting water throughout the day or have to rely on plastic bottles, which are known to contain microplastics. Our schools need filters to make sure there is easy access to safe drinking water at all times.”
The white paper emphasizes that lead exposure in schools and childcare settings is a statewide issue, with disproportionate impacts on low-income communities and communities of color. It calls for coordinated action across state agencies, including the Department of Education, Department of Environmental Protection, and Department of Children and Families, to align testing, data, funding, and implementation efforts.
“Water is the first medicine and the great connector across all generations,” said Rachel Dawn Davis, Lead-Free NJ Water Advocacy Committee Chair and Policy & Justice Organizer for Waterspirit. “Allowing lead to wither the potential of a child is to sever our connection to the future. True leadership is found in the sacred duty to quickly ensure the wellsprings of our schools and homes flow with life, not poison. We must act now; the health of our water is the soul of our people and our children remain the most precious vessels for this spirit.”
About Lead-Free NJ
Lead-Free NJ strives to achieve lead-free policy wins through a solutions-oriented, collective-action approach that amplifies the voices of affected communities and individuals. Lead-Free NJ is a collaborative, community-driven coalition working to ensure that New Jersey is free from lead in homes, water, soil, and consumer products, especially in communities historically overburdened by environmental hazards.
[email protected] | www.leadfreenj.org
About Jersey Water Works
Jersey Water Works is a collaborative effort of many diverse organizations and individuals who embrace the common purpose of transforming New Jersey’s water infrastructure through sustainable, cost-effective investments and policies that support healthy, resilient, and equitable communities.