On September 19, Acting Governor Tahesha Way signed A2929/S1034 into law, requiring landlords to report information about known or potential lead in drinking water to tenants of residential units. Additionally, it requires public water systems to conduct a no-cost lead water test at the request of the tenant and requires landlords to be cooperative with the replacement of lead pipes.
In 2021, Governor Murphy signed the Lead Service Line Replacement Law mandating that public water systems replace lead lines by 2031. P.L. 2025, c. 144 amends the existing law to include the disclosure and testing requirements.
Landlords are required to inform current and potential tenants if the property has a service line that may contain lead. Additionally, landlords are required to disclose any violations of the law. If landlords deny access for a lead line replacement, a tenant may terminate their lease without penalty.
Under the law, the New Jersey Department of Health (DOH), Department of Community Affairs (DCA), and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will develop information for consumers regarding the health risks associated with lead in drinking water and ways to minimize exposure.
In 1986, the federal government prohibited the use of lead in service lines and other plumbing; however, the removal has proved to be challenging, with both property owners and public water systems having split ownership of lines. According to the Governor’s press release, “over the past four years, New Jersey has replaced 22,007 lead service lines. The state has a total of 135,547 lead service lines and 872,942 service lines of unknown materials.”
For more information about lead service lines in New Jersey, visit https://dep.nj.gov/lead/.
To learn more about lead impacts on our health, visit nj.gov/health/childhood-lead/.
Parents and guardians can view their child’s lead test results by downloading the Docket® app (available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store) or visiting myHealthNJ.com.
For more information about environmental lead exposure reduction, visit dep.nj.gov/lead/.
Contact: Erin Knoedler, Legislative Analyst, eknoedler@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x116.