Patients, Staff Exposed To Lead In Water For A Month At Morristown Medical Center

MORRISTOWN, N.J. – Patients, visitors, and staff members who ingested water at Morristown Medical Center for more than a month were exposed to lead, Atlantic Health Systems announced Tuesday night.

It was revealed earlier this week the facility at 100 Madison Avenue switched over to bottled water for drinking and cooking purposes after levels of lead were found in the facility’s well water in late February.

See related: Lead Found In Well Water At Morristown Medical Center

Tuesday night, Atlantic Health Systems spokeswoman Elaine Andrecovich said “we have determined that patients, guests, and employees at Morristown Medical Center between January 22 trough February 25, 2016 who ingested tap water may have had an exposure to lead. Water tests conducted throughout the medical center in collaboration wit these authorities identified levels ranging from extremely low to those that exceed 15 parts per billion, a level which requires action according to federal regulations.”

The hospital will remain on bottled water for drinking and food preparation but tap water continues to be safe for hand washing, cleaning, and bathing, Andrecovich said.

“We are working with the DEP and DOH to determine a timeframe to restore our tap water supply,” she said.

The water that tested positive for lead comes from a well that only serves Morristown Medical Center and no other Atlantic Health System facility or buildings in Morristown.