The National Water Crisis: The Newark Version of the Story

The National Water Crisis: The Newark Version of the Story

The majority of the nation’s water system was built during the 19th century. Its construction is based on using heavy piping to move water usually flowing with gravity from aqueducts to urban centers. The oldest of these systems are located in the northeastern and midwestern cities that arose before the Civil War.

At this time water was transported in iron or lead pipes. Pipes were as wide as 48 inches in diameter. Water had to be pumped from the ground up to the streets. Indoor plumbing and flushing toilets were rare, they were modern conveniences reserved for the rich. Years later, when indoor plumbing reached the common man, its greatest achievement was the conveyance of water upward into high-rise structures. Again, water traveled through metal pipes. At the close of the century water for drinking, showering and sewage traveled through either iron, lead or copper pipes.

By the mid-twentieth century, the first wave of pipes were over a hundred years old. Some decay had already started, and water main breaks became normalized occurrences. During the 1920s many cities abandoned using lead-water supply pipes because their toxicity was well known. Yet, leaded gasoline was our only option until 1974 and its phase out continued well into the 1980s, lead paint was still used until it was banned by the federal government in 1978, and lead pipes were still approved in the plumbing code in the 1980s before the practice was halted in 1986. So, it was inevitable that pieces of metal were present in the living environments of most Americans. It was floating in the atmosphere, flaking off from building walls, and seeping into the drinking and bathing water.

Water pipe connectors (lead solder), the bridge between the water supply and the home, business, park or other entities were historically made of lead. These adaptors were easy to make, very affordable and rust resistant. Even if they were a health hazard, what could possibly replace them?

And that is the source of the problem-if the deteriorating pipes did not produce stray pieces of metal fragments, the connectors could. Was it possible for a nation that had built its infrastructure around heavy metals to abandon them and replace them at the cost of millions, if not billions, of dollars?

Newark’s water supply dates back to 1800, and its cast iron pipes were laid in 1828. The state's lead connectors were banned in 1987 (a year after the federal law). According to the State of New Jersey, it is estimated that 20% or more of human exposure to lead comes from drinking water, but for infants, 40-60% can come from drinking water. The state provides recommendations for running water to lessen the percentages of lead in faucet-based water and the types of filters patrons can use to minimize degrees of contamination in drinking and bathing water. Water that is over 15ppb lead content is unsafe and should not be consumed.
New Jersey’s laws require blood testing for lead at ages 1 and 2 and suggests screening for children between 3 and 5 if they have not been tested.

For most Americans, the idea of contaminated water is associated with Flint, Michigan. This industrial midwestern city received national attention in 2014 when its water source was changed and the new source, the Flint River, was found to have toxic materials including high concentrations of lead. While Flint remained on the from pages of the news and television reports, a crisis had already started in Newark. However, it did not receive the same, if any, level of attention. Here, in 2013, toxic materials were located in several school water fountains. The quick fix was simply to turn off the water fountains. The story barely made the news and was largely ignored for three years.

Other schools were tested and a similar result was detected. There should have been no question that if water fountains were contaminated, that other sources of water were equally affected.  But Newark authorities were silent and there were no tests of school faucets or neighboring homes. Or were there?

Information offered by watchdog associations suggests something quite different. For example, see NRDc’s timeline at: https://www.nrdc.org/newark-drinking-water-crisis
Between 2013-2015, 12% of the tap water samples from the Pequannock service area exceeded the 15 ppb level. In fact, in 2014, NRDC indicated that more than 10% of the homes in the Wanaque service area had lead levels beyond 19.3 ppb. By 2016, thirty public schools had lead levels above 15 ppd. These statistics should have been a municipal call to action. Yet, it is only in 2017 that the situation emerges as a major crisis. Time magazine wrote, “In June 2017, citywide tests showed more that 10% of homes across Newark had twice the amount of lead that is considered safe by federal law.” In 2018, as the city had failed to meet government guidelines, activists decided to sue the city and the city announced its water crisis. This triggered state activity and then the mayor asked for federal intervention. Between the end of 2018 and throughout 2019, governmental agencies attempted to tackle Newark’s water problems by changing pipes, distributing cases of bottled water and water filters, and educating citizens. However, in 2020, Newark still has a water crisis and although things are better, many are still drinking tainted water.

There are too many lessons that were not learned in the Newark story. Sadly, Newark will not be the last city with a water crisis. Newark and Flint did teach us about the plights of the poor and working classes and people of color. Too often their needs are neglected at the highest levels. Government inactivity and activity are often factors of mobilization. Protesting and organizing made the difference in both cities. Teachers and parents were often unified on the front lines demanding changes.

However, while seeming similar, the two stories are not really related. Comparisons are minimal at best. Newark and Flint are only linked by high concentrations of lead in their water supplies and the inability of governmental officials to confront future problems created by a generation of youngsters growing up with a strong probability of lead poisoning.


These stories reveal the flawed humanity of our political structure. Victims and villains surround us. It is up to us to make the difference in our own lives.  Will everyday people be prepared for the next Flint or Newark? Only time will tell.

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