Requires institutions of higher education to test for lead in drinking water annually, report test results, and install lead filters or treatment devices.

A1961

ASSEMBLY, No. 1961

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO

District 20 (Union)

SYNOPSIS

���� Requires institutions of higher education to test for
lead in drinking water annually, report test results, and install lead filters
or treatment devices.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative
Counsel.

��

An Act

concerning lead in drinking water at
institutions of higher education and supplementing Title 18A of the New Jersey
Statutes.�

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� a.� Each institution of
higher education shall undertake periodic testing of each drinking water outlet
used at the institution for the presence of lead.� Each test for lead shall be
conducted by a laboratory certified for this purpose by the Department of
Environmental Protection, and in accordance with the sampling and testing
methods established and provided by the department.� The initial tests for lead
shall be conducted no later than 90 days after the effective date of this act
and subsequent testing shall be conducted at least annually thereafter.�

���� b.��� Within 30 days after
completion of the testing required pursuant to subsection a. of this section,
each institution of higher education shall:

���� (1)� provide a copy of the
test results to the Secretary of Higher Education and the Commissioner of
Environmental Protection;�

���� (2)� post the test results on
its Internet website; and

���� (3)� notify students, faculty,
and staff, electronically or in writing, of the test results, and the actions
being taken to remediate drinking water outlets found to be contributing to an
elevated lead level in drinking water.�

���� c.��� (1)� If testing
conducted pursuant to subsection a. of this section reveals an elevated lead
level at a drinking water outlet, the institution of higher education shall
immediately close off access to that outlet and provide an alternate drinking
water supply until such time as the lead level in the drinking water is tested
to be below the standard therefore established by the United States
Environmental Protection Agency, or the department, whichever is more
stringent.�

���� (2)� Each institution of
higher education shall identify each building at the institution that contains
lead pipes, lead solder, or fixtures containing lead, and provide a list of the
identified buildings to the Secretary of Higher Education.� Each institution
shall install a water filter or water treatment device certified to remove lead
on each drinking water outlet in the identified buildings.� The water filters
or water treatment devices shall be maintained and replaced in accordance with
the manufacturer�s recommendations for the filter or device to ensure they
remain functional.

���� d.��� As used in this section:

���� �Department� means the
Department of Environmental Protection.

���� �Drinking water outlet� means
any water fountain, faucet, or tap regularly used for drinking or food
preparation, including ice-making and hot drink machines.

���� �Elevated lead level� means a
lead concentration in drinking water that exceeds the standard therefor
established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, or the
department, whichever is more stringent.

���� 2.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.�

STATEMENT

���� This bill would require
institutions of higher education to test for lead in drinking water annually,
report the test results, and install lead filters or treatment devices.���

���� Specifically, under the bill,
each institution of higher education in the State would be required to test
each drinking water outlet used at the institution for the presence of lead no
later than 90 days after the effective date of the act, and repeat the testing
at least once annually.� The testing would have to be conducted by a laboratory
certified for this purpose by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
and in accordance with the sampling and testing methods provided by the DEP.�
Within 30 days after completion of the testing, each institution of higher
education would be required to:� 1) provide a copy of the test results to the
Secretary of Higher Education and the Commissioner of Environmental Protection;
2) post the test results on its Internet website; and 3) notify students,
faculty, and staff, electronically or in writing, of the test results and the
actions being taken to remediate any lead issues.�

���� Under the bill, if testing
reveals an elevated lead level at a drinking water outlet, the institution of
higher education must immediately close off access to the outlet and provide an
alternate source of drinking water until such time as the lead level in the
drinking water is tested to be below the federal or State standard for lead in
drinking water, whichever is more stringent.� In addition, each institution
would be required to identify each building at the institution that contains
lead pipes, lead solder, or fixtures containing lead, and provide a list of the
identified buildings to the Secretary of Higher Education.� Each institution
would be required to install a water filter or water treatment device on each
drinking water outlet in the identified buildings, and maintain those devices
appropriately.�