FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — June 15, 2026
LEAD-FREE NJ LAUNCHES “FILTER YOUR TAP” CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT NEW JERSEY FAMILIES FROM LEAD IN DRINKING WATER
TRENTON, NJ, June 15, 2026—Today, Lead-Free NJ announced the launch of the “Filter Your Tap” campaign, a new public education initiative focused on reducing lead exposure through immediate protections for families and long-term infrastructure solutions.
The campaign provides New Jersey residents with practical information and resources to help reduce exposure to lead in drinking water, including guidance on selecting NSF/ANSI-certified water filters, properly installing and maintaining those filters, understanding the health risks associated with lead exposure, and identifying additional resources available to families. Through educational materials, community outreach, digital resources, and local partnerships, the campaign aims to help residents take action today while statewide lead service line replacement efforts continue.
There is no safe amount of lead consumption. Exposure to lead in drinking water can contribute to elevated blood lead levels, particularly in young children, leading to developmental delays, behavioral issues, and long-term health consequences. Increasing awareness and access to certified water filtration can provide immediate, practical solutions to reducing exposure while long-term infrastructure improvements are underway.
“While we work towards the long-term goal of replacing lead service lines across the state, New Jersey families cannot afford to wait,” said Yvette Jordan, Lead-Free NJ Advocacy Coordinating Committee Co-Chair, and Newark Education Workers Caucus Chair Emeritus. “Lead exposure is preventable, and this campaign can help protect families from unnecessary exposure while replacement efforts continue.”
“By empowering residents with the knowledge and tools to filter their tap water, we are providing an immediate solution,” said Shereyl Snider, Lead-Free NJ Advocacy Coordinating Committee Co-Chair and East Trenton Collaborative Community Organizer. “Safe drinking water is a fundamental human right, and the Filter Your Tap campaign helps New Jerseyans protect themselves and their families from this often-overlooked danger.”
As part of this campaign, Lead-Free New Jersey released a white paper detailing how New Jersey must take immediate action in order to protect students from lead in drinking water. Additionally, the coalition is working with local school districts by encouraging them to apply for the School Lead Filters Program, which allocates funding for point-of-use filtered bottle-filling stations and filtered faucets certified to reduce lead.
Additionally, Lead-Free NJ is distributing nearly 250 water pitcher filters with elite cartridges donated by Brita to community hubs in Orange, Paterson, and Trenton, areas in New Jersey with high risk of lead exposure. Filters have been provided to Paterson families participating in the New Jersey Lead Paint Remediation and Abatement program, Trenton families participating in a home lead testing study, families with newborn babies on the way in Orange, and more.
An informational video on the Filter Your Tap campaign can be found HERE. A photo of a billboard in Trenton spreading awareness about this important campaign can be found HERE.
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.