Water Testing Information
New Brunswick Public School prioritizes the safety and security of our city's students, families, and staff. Responsive action is taken yearly to make sure water sources in our schools are safe.
Water Testing Updates
System User
New Brunswick Public Schools has completed this year's comprehensive testing of water sources and has re-opened water fountains throughout the district, effective Tuesday, September 5, 2023.
Dear School Community,
New Brunswick Public Schools has completed this year's comprehensive testing of water sources and has re-opened water fountains throughout the district, effective Tuesday, September 5, 2023.
All drinking water sources have been tested for contaminants. This year, we tested 501 locations, including water fountains, kitchen/food prep equipment, ice machines, and sinks in nurses' offices and break rooms. Of these 501 tested locations, 7 were above the acceptable limit of 15 parts per billion (ppb). As a result, these locations will remain closed until they can be remediated and retested.
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For the list of the 7 water sources that tested above the acceptable limit, CLICK HERE.
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For the full testing report, CLICK HERE.
We will continue the annual testing of our water sources, although state regulations require testing only once every three years. This added level of attention on our district’s part highlights our commitment to the health of our students and everyone else who consumes water in our schools.
As a reminder, children are far more likely to come in contact with lead at home than at their school. If you have concerns, I recommend you discuss the risks of lead poisoning with your healthcare provider.
Thank you,
Dr. Aubrey A. Johnson
Superintendent of Schools
System User
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and as a precautionary measure, the school district closed drinking water sources for the past two years.
Dear School Community,
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and as a precautionary measure, the school district closed drinking water sources for the past two years. Our intent was to reduce the potential transmission of the virus in high-touch areas and reduce the frequency of group gatherings. During this time, the district provided recyclable water bottles to students and staff.
New Brunswick Public Schools has completed this year's comprehensive testing of water sources and has re-opened water fountains throughout the district, effective Tuesday, September 6, 2022.
All drinking water sources have been tested for contaminants. This year, we tested 297 locations, including water fountains, kitchen/food prep equipment, ice machines, and sinks in nurses' offices and break rooms. Of these 297 tested locations, 12 were above the acceptable limit of 15 parts per billion (ppb). As a result, these locations will remain offline until they can be remediated and retested.
For the list of the 12 water sources that tested above the acceptable limit, click here. For the full testing report, click here.
We will continue the annual testing of our water sources, although state regulations require testing only once every three years. This added level of attention on our district’s part highlights our commitment to the health of our students and everyone else who consumes water in our schools.
As a reminder, children are far more likely to come in contact with lead at home than at their school. If you have concerns, I recommend you discuss the risks of lead poisoning with your healthcare provider.
Thank you,
Dr. Aubrey A. Johnson
Superintendent of Schools
System User
New Brunswick Public Schools has completed this year's comprehensive testing of water sources, including those in all facilities utilized by students.
Dear School Community,
New Brunswick Public Schools has completed this year's comprehensive testing of water sources, including those in all facilities utilized by students.
As you may be aware, in response to COVID-19, our school district has created the New Brunswick Public Schools Safe Return Plan. As part of this plan, drinking fountains and many other drinking water sources have been taken offline. This decision was made in an effort to reduce the potential for transmitting COVID-19 through high touch points such as drinking fountains. Additionally, having these locations offline may reduce the likelihood of groups congregating.
During the period when water sources are offline, recyclable water bottles are being provided in ample quantities for both students and staff.
Because several water sources are offline, the number of water fixtures being tested is much lower than previous years. In general, the sources tested were locations where water bottles would not provide a suitable substitute such as kitchen/food prep equipment, ice machines, and nurse’s offices.
Of the 72 locations tested, none had readings above the acceptable limits. Click here for the current water testing reports.
We will continue to test our water sources on an annual basis, despite State regulations that require testing only once every three years. This level of attention to the district’s drinking water highlights our commitment to the health of our students and everyone else who consumes water in our schools.
As a reminder, children are far more likely to come in contact with lead at home than at their school. If you have concerns, I recommend that you discuss the risks of lead poisoning with your healthcare provider.
Thank you,
Dr. Aubrey A. Johnson
Superintendent of Schools
System User
New Brunswick Public Schools has completed its annual, comprehensive testing of 336 water sources, including those in all facilities utilized by students.
Dear School Community,
New Brunswick Public Schools has completed its annual, comprehensive testing of 336 water sources, including those in all facilities utilized by students. Of the 336 water sources tested, 18 had readings above the acceptable limits and they were immediately taken out of service. Click here for a list of the 18 water sources. The testing results for 2020 were favorable, and we can definitively say that all district water sources; water fountains, kitchen/food prep equipment, ice machines, and sinks are safe.
New Brunswick Public Schools has completed its annual, comprehensive testing of 336 water sources, including those in all facilities utilized by students. Of the 336 water sources tested, 18 had readings above the acceptable limits and they were immediately taken out of service. Click here for a list of the 18 water sources. The testing results for 2020 were favorable, and we can definitively say that all district water sources; water fountains, kitchen/food prep equipment, ice machines, and sinks are safe.
We have begun remediation on the 18 water sources taken out of service and retesting will be conducted. The current water testing reports are available by clicking here.
As a reminder, children are far more likely to come in contact with lead at home than at their school. If you have concerns, I recommend that you discuss the risks of lead poisoning with your healthcare provider.
Thank you,
Dr. Aubrey A. Johnson
Superintendent of Schools
System User
There has been significant news coverage lately about risks related to excessive, waterborne lead. With this in mind, our school district proceeded proactively to have all of our schools tested to ensure that the drinking supply for our students, faculty and staff is completely safe.
Dear School Community,
There has been significant news coverage lately about risks related to excessive, waterborne lead. With this in mind, our school district proceeded proactively to have all of our schools tested to ensure that the drinking supply for our students, faculty and staff is completely safe.
I am pleased to inform you that the official results from this extremely comprehensive testing are now available to us. Throughout our district, tests were conducted on 181 locations, from which drinking water is dispensed, and 14 locations were found to require remediation (four in McKinley School, three in the Middle School, two each in Paul Robeson Annex, Woodrow Wilson School, Lincoln Annex and one in Redshaw School). Of course, we shut these down immediately and bottled water is available to students and staff as needed. Repairs will be completed as quickly as possible. Based on our current information, we anticipate remediation to take approximately one month. Overall, these infrastructure adjustments will be small in scope, yet they’ll give everyone peace of mind knowing definitively that our water supply is free from lead-focused concerns.
(Click here to see water locations in need of remediation)
(Click here for full lead test report)
Before closing, I would like to share with you a suggestion that is based on professional input we gathered while the water was being tested. In our homes, particularly for those of us who live in older buildings with dated pipes, it is recommended practice to allow a faucet run cold for about 10 to 15 seconds before drinking water or using it for cooking. This is the case because water that has been sitting inside a pipe can have a higher concentration of lead. Also, only drink cold water from the tap, hot or even warm water can have more elevated lead levels. To help you remember this advice, here (see LINK) is an infographic on faucets and lead.
Anything we can do to ensure the health of our families, including having the school district’s water supply thoroughly assessed, is well worth the effort. At New Brunswick Public Schools, we are strongly committed to safeguarding everyone’s health.
If you have any questions or concerns, you may contact Frank LoDolce, Director of Facility Design & Construction at 732.745.5300, Ext. 5389.
Aubrey Johnson
Superintendent of Schools