More Lead Found In Morris School District Water: Report

MORRISTOWN, N.J. – Elevated levels of lead have been found in water at Sussex Avenue Elementary School just a month after the same issue arose at Hillcrest Elementary School.

According to morristowngreen.com, in a note sent to the school community this week, Superintendent Mackey Pendergrast said the water sources that tested high for lead were not used for drinking or food preparation. Subsequently, those sources were turned off.

The district tested 32 locations throughout its school buildings during the month of March and received a high mark at Hillcrest Elementary School.

Testing was conducted across all schools in the district from March 16 to 18 and results were delivered Tuesday, March 29, the district said. Water used for drinking and in classrooms at Hillcrest Elementary was immediately turned off. Students and staff there are now using bottled water, the district announced.

“Moving forward, we are creating a comprehensive process to collect water samples from every water source in the district where students, parents, or faculty might possibly obtain drinking water,” Pendergrast said. “This includes all water fountains and sinks (e.g., science laboratories, bathrooms, custodial rooms, classrooms, kitchens) and it will require careful and deliberative steps in order to assure the highest fidelity in results. As with Hillcrest Elementary School, we will immediately take action by turning off the water at any source that is found to exceed the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) and begin the remediation process. I will communicate the results to the community as soon as they are received by my office throughout the next few months.”

The results come just a few weeks after Morristown Medical Center shut down its drinking water capabilities when it learned some of its water sources were putting outlead levels 73-times the maximum limit.

The hospital conducted more than 1,000 blood tests of patients, visitors, and staff and showed no elevated levels in anyone who may have consumed the water.