The Southeast Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority (SMCMUA) is issuing this press release to provide our community with results of the 2022 Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) monitoring program. Monitoring for lead and copper is a requirement of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP).
Lead and Copper Results. SMCMUA is pleased to announce that we continue to remain in compliance with the LCR and have been in compliance since 1997. The latest sample round required collection of samples in residential homes between June and September 2022, where the results demonstrate compliance with the established lead1 and copper2 action levels. The next sampling event will commence between the months of June and September 2023.
Our Commitment. At SMCMUA, we are committed to providing high quality water that exceeds the standards established by the USEPA and the NJDEP. We encourage members of our community to contact Customer Service and/or to visit our website for additional information on water quality, including our annual consumer confidence (water quality) reports.
1 The USEPA action level for lead is 0.015 parts per million (ppm) and the 2022 90th percentile value measured was 0.0035 ppm.
2 The USEPA action level for copper is 1.300 parts per million (ppm) and the 2022 90th percentile value measured was 0.328 ppm.
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Learn About Lead. It is recommended that consumers visit the USEPA’s website at www.epa.gov/lead/learn-about-lead for important information about lead and how to reduce overall exposure.
Lead Testing. Contact SMCMUA’s Customer Service for information about testing for lead in drinking water in your home. The NJDEP requires certified laboratories to test drinking water, requires specific sample bottles to be utilized and sampling protocols to be followed.
Point of Use Devices. If you are considering purchasing a water filter or other home treatment device, we encourage you to make a fully informed decision.
• Contact Customer Service or visit our website for the latest water quality report.
• If you decide to purchase a water filter, make sure it is certified to address the issue of concern to you. NSF® International is an independent organization that certifies home treatment devices where this information is available on their website at https://www.nsf.org/consumer-resources
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to make sure the device is maintained properly.
Lead in Plumbing. The Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act (RLDWA) became effective on 1/14/2014. As a result, USEPA changed the definition of “lead-free” to reduce the lead content allowed in drinking water system and plumbing materials. The term “lead-free” was updated from not more than 8% lead content to mean “not more than a weighted average of 0.25% lead when used with respect to the wetted surfaces of pipes, pipe fittings, plumbing fittings and fixtures”. USEPA issued the Safe Drinking Water Act Rule to support the RLDWA on 9/1/2020 providing manufacturers three (3) years from this date to achieve compliance. Consumers can refer to the USEPA’s publication found at the link below to learn how to identify whether a specific plumbing product has been certified as lead free.
https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi?Dockey=P100LVYK.txt
Health Effects of Lead. Lead is particularly dangerous to children because their growing bodies absorb more lead than adults, and their brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead. Pregnant women who are exposed to lead can also result in exposure to the developing baby. Adults exposed to lead can suffer from cardiovascular effects, increased blood pressure, hypertension, decreased kidney function and reproductive problems. The USEPA established an action level of 0.015 ppm for lead in drinking water.
Health Effects of Copper. Copper is an essential micronutrient. The USEPA established an action level of 1.300 ppm for copper in drinking water to protect against adverse gastrointestinal tract effects.
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CONTACT CUSTOMER SERVICE: Consumers can report non-emergency questions or concerns to Customer Service at 973-326-6880 or customerservice@smcmua.org. Emergency conditions should be reported directly to 973-326-6880 during normal business hours and/or 973- 867-1758 for after hour emergencies. Additional information is available on our website at www.smcmua.org.
ACCOUNT INFORMATION: SMCMUA requests that account holders maintain current contact information to aid in communications for billing, service and for emergency purposes. Contact Customer Service to confirm your account information is accurate.
REGISTER FOR WATER ALERTS: SMCMUA requests that all consumers who live and/or work in the service area register with Morris County AlertMorris Smart911TM Notification System (https://oem.morriscountynj.gov/alerts) to better ensure the timely delivery of emergency notices associated with water supply, quality or other important community messages from SMCMUA. If you do not have access to a computer, please ask a relative, friend or neighbor to register for you. You can also register at www.smcmua.org and choose the “REGISTER FOR WATER ALERTS” icon. If you were previously registered with Everbridge you will need to register again.
SMCMUA was established in December of 1976. SMCMUA provides drinking water to approximately 62,000 consumers in Morris County. The SMCMUA creating municipalities are the Town of Morristown, the Township of Morris, the Township of Hanover and the Borough of Morris Plains.
For information, contact:
Laura Cummings, PE, Executive Director
973-326-6866
lcummings@smcmua.org
Drew Saskowitz, Water Quality Superintendent
973-326-7232
dsaskowitz@smcmua.org