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A 2901

Requires public community water systems to provide customers with certain information regarding lead in drinking water.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Clinton Calabrese and 9 co-sponsors

Requires NJ water systems to disclose lead sources, health risks, and reduction steps in CCRs, plus new-customer and lead-work notices to boost transparency and replacements.

Introduced in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Environment, Natural Resources, and Solid Waste Committee
#consumeraff #hazsubstanc #publicutil #watersupply
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Bill Summary · A 2901

Summary of Assembly Bill A 2901 – Lead Education, Accountability, and Disclosure Act

Overview

Bill A 2901, introduced January 9, 2024, seeks to strengthen public education and disclosure around lead in drinking water for New Jersey’s public community water systems. Referred to the Assembly Environment, Natural Resources, and Solid Waste Committee, the bill adds required lead-related information to annual Consumer Confidence Reports (CCR) and imposes new notice requirements for new customers and for planned work on lead service lines or lead mains. The act is intended to work alongside federal Safe Drinking Water Act provisions and existing CCR requirements.

Key Provisions

1) Expanded information in Consumer Confidence Reports (Section 3)

  • Public community water systems must include in their CCRs additional information about lead in drinking water, specifically:
    • Possible sources of lead (e.g., lead service lines, pipes, fixtures)
    • Health effects of lead exposure
    • Measures customers can take to reduce or eliminate lead in drinking water
  • Department of Environmental Protection (the “Department”) must publish a public notice within 120 days of the act’s effective date announcing the new CCR information requirements.
  • The added CCR content applies to the first CCR issued after the Department’s public notice and to all subsequent CCRs.

2) New-customer notice requirements (Section 4)

  • Within 90 days after beginning water service to a new customer, the water system must deliver a written notice (and in electronic form if the customer can receive electronic bills) containing:
    • Information on sources of lead, health effects, and steps to reduce/eliminate exposure
  • The Department will publish a public notice (within 120 days) detailing the form, manner, and required content of the notice.
  • Language accessibility: if a municipality has 10% or more residents whose primary language is not English, notices to new customers must be bilingual (English plus the other language).
  • Implementation: systems are not required to provide the notice until the Department’s public notice is published.

3) Lead-work notification requirements (Section 5)

  • At least 48 hours prior to starting construction, maintenance, repair, or replacement of any lead service line or lead water main, the water system must provide written notice to all affected customers/residents. In emergencies, notice must be given as soon as practicable, and work may begin prior to notice in certain urgent cases.
  • Required notice content includes:
    • Potential for increased lead levels during work and estimated duration
    • General information on lead sources and health effects
    • Actions residents can take to reduce exposure (e.g., flushing, cleaning aerators, using lead-removing filters)
    • A recommendation to fully replace lead service lines if not already being replaced, plus information on resources to assist with replacement
  • Public notice of the required notice form/content will be published within 120 days by the Department.
  • Language requirements mirror those for new-customer notices: bilingual notices in municipalities with significant non-English-speaking populations.
  • Implementation: the notice requirement awaits the Department’s public notice.

4) Effective date (Section 6)

  • The act takes effect immediately.

Affected Parties

  • Public community water systems (providers of water to residential, commercial, and institutional customers)
  • New customers establishing water service
  • Current and potential residential, commercial, and institutional residents served by lead service lines or lead mains
  • Municipalities with substantial non-English-speaking populations (10%+)

Procedural/Timeline Highlights

  • Immediate effect, but several provisions hinge on Departmental public notices:
    • CCR information update: Department notice within 120 days
    • New-customer notices: form/content notice within 120 days; actual notices within 90 days of new service
    • Lead-work notices: form/content notice within 120 days; actual notices 48 hours prior to work (or as soon as practicable in emergencies)
  • Language accessibility triggers bilingual notices for applicable municipalities

Potential Impact

  • Increased consumer awareness about lead sources, health risks, and mitigation strategies
  • Improved transparency for new customers and during lead-related construction activities
  • Possible administrative and communication costs for water systems (documentation, bilingual notices, and updated CCRs)
  • May accelerate lead-service-line replacements by informing customers of resources and urging full replacement

Status: Introduced in the Assembly and referred to the Assembly Environment, Natural Resources, and Solid Waste Committee.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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