Newark water tests find lead filters working
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NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- Sampling done on the water in hundreds of Newark homes has found that up to 99 percent of city-issued filters are working.
The tests over the last several weeks were performed after water in two homes with lead pipes showed higher than allowed lead levels last month.
Residents in about 14,000 homes have been receiving bottled water since mid-August.
Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday about 300 homes were tested and 97 percent of the filters worked effectively when the tap was turned on.
That number rose to 99 percent if water was allowed to run for five minutes before samples were taken.
Newark began passing out the filters last fall after the city's water treatment program was found to be ineffective in protecting against lead.