Ridgewood NJ, the most recent grid soil investigation at the Zabriskie-Schedler Property has revealed the presence of toxins throughout the site. Conducted by Matrix New World Engineering (Matrix) in May 2024, the investigation uncovered hazardous substances, including benzo(a)anthracene, benzo(a)pyrene, lead, and mercury.
Ridgewood NJ, as part of New Jersey’s legislative mandate to remove all lead service lines (including galvanized iron) by July 2031, water utilities need to determine the material type of every service line in their water system. Ridgewood Water continues its work to determine the service line material for those properties where the material type is currently unknown. We will be utilizing our Vac-Con truck to dig small holes in the right-of-way of properties, allowing us to expose both sides of the valve that connects the main in the street to the service line running to a home or business. We will then document the material type of both the main-to-curb (utility-owned) and curb-to-building (privately owned by homeowner/business) portions.
Newark NJ, On Friday, Stuart Meissner, candidate for U.S. Senate, former prosecutor and leading whistleblower attorney, has filed an open records request pursuant to the Open Public Records Act (“OPRA”) seeking information about communications between Cory Booker and his staff, both campaign and official, and the City of Newark concerning the Newark Water Crisis:
“As I have traveled around the state speaking to voters, I have heard an overwhelming demand for more information about Senator Cory Booker’s abdication of leadership that led to the Newark Water Crisis. People want answers. In filing this public records request, I am ensuring that New Jersey voters will know how much Booker cared about preserving his image on the presidential campaign trail than he did about the poisoned residents of Newark.”
Upper Saddle River NJ, SUEZ announced today that recent water quality tests found the drinking water in its Northern New Jersey system meets federal standards for lead.
While the tests results are welcome news, SUEZ officials said the company remains committed to its effort to protect customers. The company is vigilantly working to remove the remaining lead pipes from the system and improve corrosion control treatment.
Upper Saddle River NJ, Battle for Pleasant Brook continues and GreenUSR.org enters a second phase ,the Cleanup. This ”unimportant” to our local leaders environment issue has become a matter of national urgency.
Derek Michalski , “It‘s up to us to make our officials accountable for their actions and if anybody wants to digest brown water from Toll Brother‘s April 20, 2018 massive mud dump please let me know. I should have some saved in jars with appropriate labels. No one should underestimate danger of accidental digestion of arsenic and Lead. Better be save than 40 years later sorry. Last March EPA provided this warning: “Lead is a neurotoxin and increasing amounts build up in the body. Even at low levels, lead in children can lower I.Q.s, cause learning disabilities, damage hearing, reduce attention spans, and cause hyperactivity and other behavior problems. Arsenic is toxic, can damage people’s health, and can cause cancer. This cleanup reduces the potential for harm to people’s health from coming into contact with, or accidentally ingesting, soil or creek sediment contaminated with lead and arsenic”
Cory Booker is one of the most enigmatic people I have ever known. Rarely do you encounter someone with such overwhelming strengths combined with such unfortunate weaknesses. Cory was a breath of fresh air for Newark. He brought new respect to the city. He ended the succession of mayors who took office only to eventually find themselves behind bars. He elevated the urban issues of Newark and all cities like it across the country to a new level in the national consciousness. He is a truly inspiring and electric speaker. This is probably his greatest asset. He has the ability to electrify and galvanize an audience like Dr. Martin Luther King did. When you hear him speak it is truly moving. He is special. He is energizing to be around.
However, it is rare I have met someone who is that bright, that energetic, packs that kind of horsepower and, yet, allows himself to be “marginalized” by significant weaknesses. Cory Booker lacks executive ability. In my opinion, he should never be a Governor. He has demonstrated a limited ability and desire to administrate or supervise. And that is why I pen this editorial. I was hoping that Cory Booker would be an exceptional Mayor, one who would take Newark to the next level. In my opinion, that did not happen.
I am writing to inform you of a Municipal Information Forum that we will be hosting for Ridgewood residents regarding Ridgewood Water.
The intent of this forum is to educate the public on how water is delivered to your faucet. We will deal with current issues in the news as well as discussing the quality of our water, sustaining water for the future, budget and capital investments and our short-term and long-term strategies.
Our decision to hold this forum emanated from several sources. One clearly is the amount of interest that residents have expressed in learning more about Ridgewood Water; this has definitely been heightened by stories in the news. Secondly, we have held two sessions such as these at both our 2016 budget reviews as well as at a Glen Rock Council meeting. These were two-way dialogues that were well received and I believe went a long way in a better mutual understanding of how the water we consume is delivered to our homes.
We are planning on conducting this forum on two separate dates. The first is Thursday April 21st from 9-11 AM. The other is Monday April 25th from 7:30-9:30PM.
Please let us know if you intend on joining us by responding to this e-notice.
Look forward to seeing you.
Best,
Roberta Sonenfeld
Village Manager
201-670-5500, ext. 203
Public Notice- Click HERE
State Certified Water Testing Laboratories- Click HERE
NJDEP Lead FAQ- Click HERE
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Water detected lead in the water at homes and businesses having lead components in their plumbing. The utility is implementing a corrosion control treatment process that mitigates the problem. Ridgewood Water’s new hydraulic modelling software was used to test various combinations of treatment sites to provide effective protection for the entire system with the least amount of equipment and expense. The results indicated that all 30 points of entry into the system will require treatment.
Polyphosphate, a corrosion inhibitor is currently being added to the water at several locations. The permitting process is underway to extend this treatment to the remaining sites. Until the treatment plan receives final approval from NJDEP and is in full effect, residents can take one simple step to eliminate their exposure to lead in drinking water. Let the faucet run for several seconds before drawing water for cooking or drinking. If your service line is made of lead, run the water for a longer period to clear all of the water from the service line. Call 201-670-3372 to request information on your service line material.
Water that has not been in prolonged contact with lead-containing plumbing materials will be lead-free.
Other steps residents can take are to run water to flush out lead , use cold water for cooking and preparing baby formula , use alternative sources for drinking ,and if in doubt get your child tested.
Ridgewood NJ, A recent OPERA request turned up the Village was buying bottled water .I guess Ridgewood Water isn’t good enough for some employees. Maybe it’s the lead.
Village eblast January 5th 2015 , “The water supplied by Ridgewood Water does not have lead in it. A small number of homes in the Ridgewood Water service territory have plumbing materials that can leach lead into the water which caused an exceedance of the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for lead during routine testing in 2012. Regulatory agencies require that water utilities test for lead by setting up “worst‐case‐ scenarios” at locations at increased risk such as those known to have lead service lines. Additionally, the samples taken for testing must be water that has been undisturbed and in contact with the household plumbing for at least 6 hours. These samples are usually taken in the morning before any water has been used including the flushing of toilets. Therefore, samples are usually collected by residents. Each participating resident received the test results for their specific location. Additionally, virtually every faucet has brass components that contain a percentage of lead. This is why it is prudent to let a faucet run for several seconds before using the water for cooking and drinking, especially if the faucet has not been used for several hours. If your service line is made of lead, run the water for a longer period to clear all of the water from the service line. Please call 201‐ 670‐3372 if you are unsure of your service line material. Ridgewood Water will start using a phosphate‐based additive later this year that will also address this issue by coating the lines and faucets effectively stopping the leaching of lead into the water”
JANUARY 9, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015, 11:11 AM
BY STEPHANIE ALBERICO AND DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITERS |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
During a presentation at a council work session on Jan. 7, Ridgewood Water Business Manager Dave Scheibner reiterated facts from a notice that the water utility distributed to its customers last month and confirmed that there is no lead in the water supply.
“As your water system, we are required to conduct public education in regards to lead contamination,” said Scheibner. “I understand that this notice has created some concern among some of the residents in our community. Please know that the language in the notice is prescribed by regulation and my appearance here tonight is for the purpose of providing facts and context to help our residents put this issue into proper prospective.”
“The water supply by Ridgewood Water does not have lead in it,” he continued. “Regulatory agencies require that water utilities test for lead by setting up worst-case scenarios at locations with increased risk such as those knowing to have lead service lines.”
Ridgewood Water, during regular testing performed in June 2012, detected elevated lead levels in “drinking water found in some buildings.” Testing took place at high risk locations in the service area, which includes residential and commercial addresses in the village, Glen Rock, Midland Park and Wyckoff.
According to Scheibner, Ridgewood Water was required to develop a treatment strategy to address the situation. Water officials are currently testing phosphate additives that remediate lead corrosion, which “effectively stops the leaching of lead into the water.”
“This treatment provides other official benefits for the water system and has no negative health effects,” said Scheibner. “A permit to allow this treatment to be implemented permanently is pending with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Until this treatment plant is in full effect, residents can take one simple step to eliminate their exposure to lead in drinking water. Let the faucet run for several seconds before drawing water for cooking or drinking. If your service line is made of lead, run the water for a longer period to clear all the water from the service line.”
Scheibner provided information, material and handouts for residents with contact information about service lines, testing for lead, phosphate water treatment, health effects of lead and also answered any questions posed by the public at the meeting.
Mayor Paul Aronsohn asked Scheibner if there was a reason to be concerned.
“There’s a reason to be cautious,” said Scheibner. “Getting in the habit of running the faucet if it hasn’t been used for awhile is just a common sense habit to get into. You don’t need to be concerned about it. It’s just a good habit to get into.”