The city has made available free water testing kits at seven neighborhood firehouses for residents concerned about lead in drinking water.
“The City of Paterson understands our residents’ concerns,” mayor Jose “Joey” Torres said in a statement.
The Torres administration and the Passaic Valley Water Commission (PVWC) are conducting water testing at all school buildings in the city, according to the mayor’s announcement.
Water testing kits can be obtained from the below firehouses:
Northside Firehouse (48 Temple Street)
Hillcrest Firehouse (221 Union Avenue)
Southside Firehouse (124 Getty Avenue)
Madison Avenue Firehouse (850 Madison Avenue)
Riverside Firehouse (236 Lafayette Street)
Trenton Avenue Firehouse (127 Trenton Avenue)
McBride Firehouse (300 McBride Avenue)
Steps to reduce your exposure to lead from drinking water
1. Run your water to flush out lead.
2. Use cold water for cooking and preparing baby formula.
3. Do not boil water to remove lead. Boiling water will not reduce lead.
4. Look for alternative sources of drinking water.
5. Test your water for lead. Call PVWC at 973.340.4300 to find out how to get your water tested for lead. Or visit the following link to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s website for a list of laboratories are certified for leading testing: http://datamine2.state.nj.us/DEP_OPRA/OpraMain/categories?category=Certified+Laboratories
6. Get your child’s blood tested. Contact your local health department or healthcare provider to find out how can you get your child tested for lead if you are concerned about exposure.
7. Identify and replace plumbing fixtures containing lead.
8. Find out whether your service line is made of lead. PVWC maintains records of the materials, such as the water mains, located in the distribution system. Contact Customer Service Department at 973.340.4300 for service line materials records.