Water quality is a key component to a healthy school. Here are 5 ways to improve water quality and provide better access for students and staff.

Northampton, MA –News Direct– Delos

Delos: Boy with water bottle.

By REGINA VAICEKONYTE

Ensuring students, teachers and staff have access to good quality water, especially clean drinking water, is a crucial component of a healthy school. This article explores why water quality and access is important, and identifies three key issues many schools around the nation currently face. We also provide five measures schools can take to address these issues.

Water Is an Essential Building Block of Life

Access to water that is free of inorganic, organic, and biological contaminants is essential for maintaining optimal health. Humans are mostly made of water – in fact, water comprises over 50% of an adult’s body weight. However, water is vulnerable to pollution that can harm our health as well as the environment. These contaminants, especially in high doses, can be toxic and impair health and overall quality of life.

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) allows the EPA to set national health-based standards for drinking water to protect against water contamination. However, the EPA estimates that approximately 98,000 public schools (grades K-12) and 500,000 child care facilities are not regulated under the SDWA. Testing drinking water quality is a voluntary decision, and many unregulated schools and child care facilities may not be testing it.

Sources of Water Contamination

Even today, with our advanced treatment technologies, it is still challenging to ensure that everyone has access to water that is free of contaminants. For one thing, conventional water treatment systems do not always remove contaminants effectively. Furthermore, in addition to pollution from industry and agriculture, the treatment and distribution systems meant to keep drinking water safe can also be potential sources of contamination, as pollutants can be introduced through these water distribution infrastructures. Finally, because scientific knowledge concerning new water contaminants and safe exposure levels is always evolving, it is challenging for regulations to keep pace.

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Americans Face Ongoing Water Challenges

Despite the fact that water quality in the U.S. is quite good compared to many other countries, there are still many risks for contamination. The American Society of Civil Engineers gave U.S. drinking water infrastructure a “D” grade in 2017, citing its aging and deteriorating infrastructure, and the EPA estimates that over $743 billion are needed for nationwide water infrastructure improvements. In fact, each year since 1982, up to 28% of Americans have been affected by water that is in violation of SDWA health-based water quality standards set by the EPA.

Common Water Quality and Access Issues in Schools

Lack of Access to Clean Drinking Water

Access to clean drinking water is crucial in helping students increase their water consumption and maintain hydration throughout the day. While important in maintaining good physical health, adequate hydration may also improve cognitive function in students. One study found that being dehydrated by just 2% (classified as mild to moderate dehydration) can impair performance in tasks that require attention, psychomotor, and immediate memory skills. Another study, conducted among students, aged 9-11 in South Italy, Sardina, found that 84% of students were in a state of mild dehydration at the beginning of the school day. As levels of dehydration increased, students’ short-term memory also decreased.

While the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) requires schools participating in the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program to make free drinking water available to students during meal service, many schools still lack readily available, clean drinking water. Studies show that accessibility issues can arise due to an inadequate number or poor placement of drinking fountains, broken or poorly maintained water fountains, and poor water quality.

A 2016 study conducted in 59 middle schools and high schools in Massachusetts found that less than half of the schools met the federal Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act requirement for free water access during lunch. Slightly more than half (59%) met the Massachusetts state plumbing code, which specifies the minimum number of water sources per a given number of students. While schools, on average, provided at least 1 water source per 75 students, within each school almost a third of these water sources were broken or appeared unclean.

Lead

Water pipes are often made from lead, which can leach into water if the pipes are corroded. Young children are particularly vulnerable to lead exposure because the physical and behavioral effects of lead occur at lower exposure levels compared to adults. Low levels of lead exposure have been linked to behavior and learning problems, lower IQ and hyperactivity, slowed growth, and anemia among children; in rare cases, exposure can also cause seizures, coma, and even death.

Based on available data from 12 states, a report conducted by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Nutrition Policy Institute at the University of California found that 12% (57,152) of all water samples tested had lead concentrations at or above the states’ action level, and 44% (4,777) of schools tested had one or more water samples at or above the states’ action level.

Bacterial Contaminants

Regular water use helps prevent water stagnation by bringing in new water, along with disinfectant substances. However, many school buildings are experiencing prolonged periods of low-to-no water use due to various reasons, including the Covid-19 pandemic shutdowns. Furthermore, most schools do not check or flush their water pipes regularly, which helps remove stagnant water from the interior pipes. Stagnant water can increase the risk for growth and spread of harmful bacteria, which may make the water supply unsafe to drink or use.

In August 2020, five schools in Ohio and four schools in Pennsylvania detected Legionella in their water supply. Legionella bacteria can cause Legionnaires disease — a type of severe pneumonia — if small water droplets containing the bacteria become aerosolized and are inhaled.

5 Ways to Improve Water Quality and Access in Schools

1. Regular Water Quality Testing

Conducting regular water quality testing is essential to ensuring students’ access to safe drinking water. Twenty-four U.S. states and the District of Columbia had lead testing programs for school drinking water as of 2018.

2. Regular Maintenance

Ensure that drinking water access points (such as water fountains) are well maintained and cleaned regularly. This helps to reduce possible bacterial contamination and also makes drinking water stations more appealing to students.

3. Filtration

Filtration is one of the most effective treatment methods for mitigating water quality concerns. Different types of filters are designed for different types of contaminants. For example, activated carbon filters target chemicals, while kinetic degradation fluxion (KDF) filters help reduce dissolved metals. In addition, water filters differ in terms of their placement and can be installed either at point-of-entry (POE; meant to treat all the water that comes into the building) or point-of-use (POU; meant to treat water that comes out from a specific location). Water filters should be selected based on the specific water quality concerns in a given school.

4. Water Softening

“Hard water,” or water that contains excessive minerals such as calcium, can sometimes taste “off”. This can discourage children from drinking enough water. Water softeners that filter out these minerals can help improve the taste and appearance of water.

5. Improving Access

It is important to ensure that clean, free drinking water is readily available to students throughout the school. Every school has unique water accessibility needs, so administrators must assess the state, district, and school water policies related to water access in addition to their current school water environment. Schools can help improve water access by installing more water fountains, water coolers, water bottle refilling stations, and other clean drinking water sources. Students tend to drink more water when cups are provided, so schools may consider promoting refillable water bottles and offering cups for students who do not have refillable water bottles.

Delos Water Filtration Solutions

Protecting students, teachers and staff from water contaminants and ensuring that they are adequately hydrated throughout the day must be a key consideration for school administrators as they work to create a healthier school environment. Many schools have focused primarily on indoor air quality and sanitation measures, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, however school administrators must not overlook the importance of water quality and access. Contact us to see how our water quality solutions can work for your school(s).

For more information on indoor environmental factors that affect student health, well-being and performance, and steps that schools can take to address these factors, make sure to check out our white paper, Healthy Learning Environments.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Delos on 3blmedia.com

View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/delos-5-ways-to-improve-water-quality-in-schools-868686510

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Originally Appeared Here

Jerry Gaye

The Liberian delegation at the ongoing 9th World Water Forum in Dakar, Senegal has disclosed that the country will get US$50 million out of the 1.8 billion gifted by the United States Government to twenty-one countries across the world. 

About 15 countries in Africa are expected to get their share of the goodwill by the US Government according to the Liberian delegation. 

Liberia has abundant water resources, but close to 90% of its population has limited access to safe drinking water Abundant in rivers, rainforests, mangroves, and swamps, Liberia is one of the wettest countries in the world. But it lacks infrastructure and services to reach everyone with safe drinking water.

All in all, less than 10 per cent of Liberians have access to safely managed drinking water and sanitation services, according to the JMP 2017. Securing access to safe water and adequate sanitation for all would go a long way in reducing infection, disease and death.

Sanitation is very poor, with the vast majority of people in rural areas lacking decent toilets and latrines, and having to defecate in the open instead. About 42 percent of Liberia’s population practices open defecation according to the Joint Monitoring Programme 2017 (JMP 2017).

And in a a live conversation from Darkar Liberia Water, Sanitation and Hygiene CEO Bobby Whitfield, said “at the celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the African Ministers Council on Water, it was disclosed to the world that the United States Government has put aside 1.8 billion dollars for water support for 21 countries around the world.

Out of these 21 countries, 15 are in Africa and one of those countries to benefit is Liberia. We now got a sense that 15 million is being put together for Liberians for five years as a priority country for Water and Sanitation support”. Mr. Whitfield added that the Liberian government and its partners are now in the process of strategizing policies for the usage of the money to achieve its intended purpose. 

The World Water Forum is the world’s largest event on water and sanitation and was first organized in 1996 to put together a collective action plan during and after each Forum. The 9th Forum is the first to be hosted in sub-Saharan Africa. The forum brings together participants from all levels and areas, including politics, multilateral institutions, academia, civil society and the private sector, among others. The Forum provides a unique platform where the international water community and key decision makers can collaborate and make long-term plans and progress on global water challenges.

Over the years, the number of people participating in the Forum has grown from a few hundred to tens of thousands, from both the international community and host countries.

The Liberian delegation headed by Water, Sanitation and Hygiene CEO, Bobby Whitfield on Wednesday made a separate presentation on Liberia’s challenges in dealing with Water, Sanitation and Hygiene issues. The delegation’s separate presentations highlighted key priority issues including the provision of safe and clean drinking water for rural communities and efforts to end open defecation by 2025. 

Liberia’s WASH Legislative Caucus Co-chair, Representative Vicent Willie, a member of the Liberian delegation to the 9th World Water Forum in Dakar, Senegal, also added that the provision of water for rural areas as one of the key areas highlighted by the delegation will boost the sector and take Liberians out of poverty.

“In Liberia right there, you are aware that people are still drinking from creeks, so we want to ensure that we can give everyone access to pipe borne water or at least those basic services where we will have the hand pumps available for people to have access”, he added.

According to him, rural areas in Liberia and Africa are the most affected places to access safe drinking water and he is hopeful that his colleagues at the Forum will have a consideration.

Liberia, as one of the few countries in the world to introduce the WASH Legislative Caucus, according Representative Vicente the forum was also informed about the Liberia WASH Legislative Caucus formation, challenges and success stories since it was introduced at the Legislator. Representative Willie added that after telling the world about the workings of the Liberia WASH Legislative Caucus, parliamentarians at the Senegal’s Forum agreed to formulate a policy and launch a WASH Legislative Handbook to be used by the Global WASH Parliament. He said the WASH Legislative Handbook will be used like in the case of the ECOWAS Parliament to foster activities of the WASH Sector across the globe.

Liberia’s success story according to the Grand Bassa County District #4 Lawmaker was applauded by parliamentarians across the world as they intend to build on what Liberia presented at the Forum.            

Recently Liberia’s WASH Sector had an intensive and interactive brain storming exercise in Gbangar, Bong County relative to the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene sector. Participants dominantly Superintendents, relevant stakeholders in the sector as well as Civil Society organizations jointly pen down their signatures to mark the official signing of Gbarnga 2022 declaration to end open defection in Liberia by 2025.

The fourteen counts declaration among other things highlighted that a dedicated staff be designated by the County Superintendent as focal person in the County that County Superintendents advocate with their legislative caucuses and other stakeholders to allocate about 5% of funding for sub National level for the implementation of the Liberia ending open defecation roadmap 2025.

To reflect a holistic approach, the declaration also calls for active engagements from government organizations, political parties, civil society organizations, workers, teachers, the media, transport unions as well as security agencies and etc. on the CHATWASH Movement to play an instrumental role in carrying forward Sanitation and Hygiene promotion as a social movement. 

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Originally Appeared Here

Council leader Phélim Mac Cafferty

Six new drinking water fountains are being installed in popular areas of the city in a bid to cut plastic use and litter.

Two fountains are already in use at Hove Lagoon and on Hove seafront and four more are being placed at Churchill Square, in front of the Palace Pier, outside Hove Town Hall and Brighton Station.

They have been installed by Brighton and Hove City council and Southern Water. If successful, more fountains could be installed in other parts of the city.

Council leader Phélim Mac Cafferty, one of the first to try the new water fillers, said: “I’ve been pressing for new water fountains in Brighton & Hove since my time in opposition, so as leader of the council, I’m pleased that we are now able to open brand new drinking water fountains in the city.

“The fountains will be incredibly handy for residents and visitors alike on our seafront and in the city centre who will be able conveniently refill their flasks or bottles removing the need for them to buy bottle after bottle of water. The knock on effect will also be less rubbish along the seafront.

“This is an important part of tackling the scourge of plastic waste and playing our part for the environment. As a seaside city, we bear a special responsibility to protect our precious marine environment, especially as it’s estimated 8 million tonnes of plastic waste enter the sea from land each year.

“With covid restrictions now lifted, we are pleased to be able to install these fantastic, safe new water filling units and fountains. The public health benefits of water are widely acknowledged and it’s brilliant that we are able to make fresh, free, clean drinking water readily available to our residents.

“Using a refillable water bottle is one small but important action everyone can take to reduce plastic waste and help reduce our impact on the planet. The pandemic has sadly seen a huge rise in the use of singe use plastics, but I really hope the new fountains will help all of us redouble our efforts to reduce and prevent waste.”

The fountains were originally due to be installed in 2020, but plans were put on hold due to covid.

However, now that restrictions have been lifted and there is much more known about the transmission of the coronavirus, the council and public health teams are confident that the water stations can be safely installed, and any health risks minimised with regular cleaning and maintenance.

This will include:

• Daily cleaning and sterilising
• Regular water testing
• Twice yearly inspection, internal sterilisation and maintenance
• Daily reporting of damage
• Locating the units in shady areas, away from potential contamination such as overhanging trees.
• The fillers also operate with a hands-free, push activation system, which allows bottles to be filled by pressing down onto a platform to avoid the bottleneck touching the fill spout.

If needed, the water fountain can be modified to be used for bottle filling only.

 

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Nairobi, Kenya — Joan Waweru was among villagers on their regular trek to the river to fetch water when they discovered a neighbour’s dead body, believed to have committed suicide by drowning in river Kamiti.

She was thirteen years old and recalls how even after the traumatizing incident, the village, and many others along river Kamiti, which runs along coffee plantations in Kiambu County of Kenya’s Central region, continued to rely on the river as their primary source of water for all domestic purposes.

Ten years on, she tells IPS that the river is still the primary water source for her family and many other households in Kiaibabu village.

“My mother still walks about three kilometres to the river and back, one trip in the morning and another in the evening. So, in total, she walks six kilometres every day to fetch 60 litres of water. She carries a 20-litre container on her back and two 5-litre containers on each hand,” she says.

“River Maing’oroti is about a kilometre away from our house, but over the years, the river has become a small stream, and it takes a lot of time to fill up a 20-litre container.”

The UN estimates show that just like Waweru’s mother, the average woman in rural Africa walks six kilometres every day to fetch 40 litres of water. Kenya is classified as a water-scarce country as only approximately 56 percent of the population has access to clean water.

As the global community marks World Water Day on March 22 under the theme ‘Groundwater: making the invisible visible’, UN research predicts water scarcity in Africa could reach dangerously high levels by 2025.

With one in three people in Africa facing water scarcity, access to clean, affordable, and safe drinking water is far from universal across the continent.

On average, people in sub-Saharan Africa travel 30 minutes daily to access water. According to UN estimates, the sub-Saharan Africa region loses 40 billion hours per year collecting water.

In the absence of clean and easily accessible water, research shows families and communities, particularly in rural Africa and informal urban settlements, will remain locked in generational poverty.

In August 2021, UNICEF revealed that “nearly nine of 10 children in North Africa live in areas of high or extremely high-water stresses with serious consequences on their health, nutrition, cognitive development and future livelihoods.”

Against this backdrop, the World Health Organization says that there is an economic gain or return of between three to 34 US dollars for every dollar invested in water sanitation.

The capital cost required to secure safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene for all people in sub-Saharan Africa, according to the World Resources Institute (WRI) estimates, is 35 billion US dollars per year.

Experts in natural resources such as Simon Peter Njuguna from Kenya’s Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation say securing safe drinking water for all requires exploring, protecting, and sustainably using groundwater.

Groundwater, he says, is critical to human survival and in adapting to climate change because it holds vast quantities of water and feeds springs, rivers, lakes, wetlands, and oceans.

Home to 677 lakes, Njuguna tells IPS that Africa has the largest volume of non-frozen water and that two-thirds of sub-Saharan Africa rely on surface water from lakes, rivers, wetlands and even oceans.

Despite large volumes of surface water, WRI research shows 400 million people in sub-Saharan Africa lack access to basic drinking water and that African countries face some of the highest water risks in the world.

Water scarcity in Africa, Njuguna tells IPS, is largely driven by a lack of investment in water infrastructure such as piping to bring water closer to the people.

In Kampala and Lagos, for instance, WRI estimates show only 15 percent of city residents have access to piped water.

“Water scarcity is also a consequence of changing weather patterns including unpredictable rainfall, low rainfall and rising temperatures,” he says.

Nairobi based food safety and security expert Evans Kori tells IPS that water drives Africa’s GDP and is central to food security.

WRI estimates show for 90 percent of sub-Saharan Africa’s rural population, agriculture is the primary source of income. Water stresses due to changing weather patterns spell doom for the region because more than 95 percent of farming in sub-Saharan Africa relies on rainfall.

Kori says water is a major and critical factor of agricultural production and stresses that escalating water insecurity is as much a health and nutrition issue as it is a development issue.

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“Serious investment in water-related infrastructure is urgently needed to ensure all people, and more so the most vulnerable households, have access to clean water. In Kenya, for instance, despite rivers increasingly becoming crime scenes where murdered people are dumped, for many rural households, the river is the only option,” he says.

He references river Yala which rises from the Rift Valley region and flows for approximately 219 kilometres into Lake Victoria in Kisumu County.

In January 2022, more than 20 bodies in various states of decomposition were retrieved from the river Yala after locals saw bodies floating on the surface.

“Yala is not an isolated incident. In June 2021, for example, more than 15 bodies were found in rivers within Murang’a County, and for many locals, these rivers are a primary source of water. Urgent intervention is needed because this is a health disaster,” Kori observes.

Even though surface water is considered unfit for human consumption unless first filtered and disinfected, safety is not a priority for millions of poor and vulnerable households across the African continent.

IPS UN Bureau Report

Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau

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LAWRENCE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — Supplying water from Moulton City Lake has the upside of avoiding any contaminants from the Tennessee River, but the downside has consistently been poor-tasting drinking water.

“A lot of the customers when they come in and order water, they completely hate the taste of it,” Bobby Rai’s Sports Grill employee Raigen Harville said.

Athens City Schools student left behind on field trip

Numerous Moulton City Council members told News 19 that longtime water treatment Superintendent Jerry Johnson has efforted studies from Auburn University and state agencies to improve the problem, after a history of detection of algae and geosmin, the latter of which causes a smelly odor.

However, Johnson may soon be out of a job due to allegations of harassment announced by Mayor Roger Weatherwax. Officials who spoke off-camera said those claims are unfair, and they stand against the mayor’s plans to fire Johnson in the coming days.

In February the city filed this application listing with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) for almost $21 million in water system improvement grants. ADEM said the city should expect a response before this summer.

For local businesses, the water struggle continues. “I have to go get bottles of water, or sometimes they’ll ask for no ice because they think it’s more to do with the ice. But our water system, it tastes completely terrible. And the prices of water bottles add up for us,” Harville said.

Huntsville taxi led police on multi-state chase

Mayor Weatherwax’s office and the city attorney meanwhile both failed to return calls and emails from News 19.

Unnamed city officials said that legal representatives from both the city and Johnson were scheduled to meet Wednesday.

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People in Edmonton are complaining that their drinking water smells and tastes “extra-chlorine-y” at the moment and there’s actually a pretty good explanation why.

Users on Twitter said it smells “like the wave pool” at the West Edmonton Mall but, according to experts, it’s caused by the time of year.

“Is the water in Edmonton extra chlorine-y or is it just me? My shower smells like a public pool,” one user said.

Another added: “I’m not too bothered by Edmonton’s chlorine-heavy water, but the dog — who will eat rotting things off the ground — is none too keen.”

Anyone else in Edmonton notice a stronger than usual chlorine smell in their water? @CityofEdmonton I like showering in water, not chemicals. Why does my shower smell like the wave pool at @Official_WEM?

— Jason Zu00ebro ud83cuddfaud83cudde6u270aud83cudffd (35-24-5) (@Jason Zu00ebro ud83cuddfaud83cudde6u270aud83cudffd (35-24-5))
1648052463

Another posted: “Hey, why does all the water in Edmonton currently smell and taste like chlorine? I hate it here.”

However, there’s actually a scientific reason as to why people’s water smells like a public pool right now.

As snow in the city melts and runs into the North Saskatchewan River, it brings a lot of decomposing vegetation, sediment and other organic materials into the river with it, EPCOR, Edmonton’s water company explained.

The spring runoff, as it’s known, changes the quality of water in the river and water can end up with a “musty or earthy smell”.

“EPCOR prepares for spring runoff in advance by adjusting our treatment process to neutralize odours; however, you may still notice a temporary change in the smell or taste of the drinking water,” it explained.

EPCOR added that the water is completely safe to drink during the spring runoff.

If you are having an issue with your water smelling, the company recommends running your cold water tap for at least three minutes in the morning or adding lemon to your water to neutralize the smell.

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Karlye Wong, a PhD candidate in the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, is working with the Geita and Nyang’hwale District Councils in northern Tanzania to develop an affordable, low-maintenance, off-grid solution for delivering clean drinking water that has been treated with ultraviolet (UV) light.

In the areas where Wong is working, health-care facilities are not connected to electrical grids or municipal water systems, and groundwater sources are limited. Patients and hospital staff often have to collect water off-site, from sometimes unsafe water sources located miles away.

“When you’re feeling sick, you seek out health care,” says Wong, who is supervised by Ron Hofmann, a professor in the department of civil and mineral engineering. “But in many parts of the world, even the local health centre doesn’t have access to clean, safe water for drinking, handwashing and hygiene, sterilization of equipment, or intravenous and oral administration of medication.

“Lack of access to safe water exacerbates risks of infection, water-borne diseases and diarrhea. In Tanzania, a study by the National Institute for Medical Research showed that 60 per cent of health-care facilities have high degrees of unsafe microbial contamination in sample water.”

In the past few years, rainwater harvesting has become a more prominent source of water for rural and off-grid contexts around the world. However, it is not normally treated due to a host of factors, including the high cost of sanitation equipment, as well as lack of access to the chemicals and expertise needed to maintain it.

Treating water with UV light is a potentially attractive solution since it’s known to destroy pathogens such as viruses and bacteria. Powered by low-cost solar panels, off-grid UV treatment systems are also simpler to deploy and require less maintenance than traditional chemical treatment.

As part of a pilot program, eight health-care facilities in the Geita and Nyang’hwale District Councils have been outfitted with solar-powered UV systems for rainwater harvesting and disinfection. Wong and her collaborators are now leading a detailed assessment of the performance of these facilities, as well as the experiences of their operators.

Last August, Wong travelled to all eight of the rural sites to inspect the installations and replace malfunctioning equipment, and she aims to return for a second visit later this year.

Her goal is to further refine the design of these solar-powered UV disinfection systems so they can be more effective in addressing contamination, while also being adoptable and sustainable with respect to the context of the local community.

“One change we’re looking at is replacing the current set of UV lamps with light emitting diodes, or LEDs,” says Wong. “These bulbs are less costly – and require less energy and maintenance – than the existing fluorescent bulbs. They also contain no mercury, which is a health hazard.”

Wong hopes that the project will contribute to a better understanding of how off-grid communities and health services can sustain safe water quality in the face of challenges such as climate change and water insecurity.

“While this work focuses on a pilot study in Tanzania, the lessons learned will be broadly applicable to rural or off-grid communities in developing countries around the world,” says Wong.

“Working closely with local government and staff allows us to integrate community needs and long-term sustainability into this research. It’s really important that we get these details right, because there are so many places where this kind of approach could make a difference.”

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WOODBRIDGE, NJ — Starting this March, Middlesex Water Company will begin a 7.9 million-dollar project to upgrade the drinking water infrastructure in Woodbridge Township.

As part of the project, which the company calls RENEW 2022, Middlesex Water Company intends to replace 24,100 linear feet of water mains that run under Woodbridge streets and homes, as well as service lines, valves and fire hydrants in Woodbridge.

In total, that’s nearly five miles of water mains the water company will be replacing.

The following Woodbridge streets are included in the project work area: Able Street, Bedford Avenue, Bond Street, Byrd Street, Concord Road, Drew Way, East Cliff Road, Emery Street, Falmouth Road, Highland Road, Highfield Road, Hillcrest Road, Melvin Avenue, Middle Hill Road, North Washington Street, South Hill Road, South McKinley Avenue, Universal Avenue, West Bury Road and Worth Street

The work starts this month and is expected to take about 8-9 months to complete, weather depending, said the company.

Then, in the spring of 2023 Middlesex Water Company will then send crews around to do road, sidewalk and lawn restoration.

The company says the project is being done to improve water reliability, improve fire flows and overall service quality.

Here’s what you’ll likely notice:

Woodbridge residents may notice some traffic disruption as the roads are trenched to allow installation of a new water main. There will also be excavations when the service lines to each individual building are connected to the new mains.

Also, some Woodbridge homeowners will lose water pressure throughout this project in the next 8-9 months as the mains are replaced. This will happen for a period of 6-8 hours as their water service line is transferred from the old water main to the new main, said the company. Customers will be notified of the expected timing of this transfer in advance through phone calls and door hangers.

Affected customers will receive additional details about the project in advance of the temporary service interruption. Residents can expect unimpeded access to their homes as crews work to replace and install the new mains, water service lines and meter pits. Crews may revisit streets multiple times to complete all facets of the work.

The project also includes the installation of exterior below ground meter pits to eventually house water meters at each customer’s house. The company’s long-term plan is to relocate meters from inside the home to exterior meter pits for greater customer convenience and safety.

The actual relocation of the meter will occur when the customer’s meter is regularly scheduled for testing.

Customers can learn more by visiting www.waterfortomorrowmwc.com/renew

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RIDGEWOOD — The village has been approved for a $2.8 million federal Environmental Protection Agency grant to pay costs associated with removing so-called forever chemicals from the water supply. 

The grant will offset a $3.5 million renovation of the village’s Ravine Treatment Plant to remove per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, found in the local drinking water. The municipally owned utility, Ridgewood Water, serves 62,000 customers in the village, Midland Park, Glen Rock and Wyckoff. 

“We became aware of the funding on April 9 and had to have the application ready April 16,” said Ridgewood Mayor Susan Knudsen. “Luckily we had a shovel-ready project.”

Knudsen credited U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez and Rep. Josh Gottheimer with shepherding the grant through Congress, as well as local officials who scrambled to assemble the necessary documents and letters of support. The grant comes from the federal Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.

“For years now, it’s my top priority to get clean drinking water for our children and families,” Gottheimer said Tuesday. “With bipartisan legislation I just helped pass and get signed into law, we’re clawing our federal tax dollars back to Jersey to help Ridgewood Water get lead and forever chemicals out of our drinking water.”

Menendez said, “I’m proud to have secured this funding for Ridgewood so that we can ensure all residents have access to clean and safe drinking water.”

Ridgewood filed lawsuits against a number of companies in 2019 and 2020 after 44 of its 52 municipal wells were found to be contaminated with elevated levels of PFAS, a group of man-made chemicals linked to cancer and other illnesses. Chemicals in the group include perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS).

Dozens of New Jersey community water systems serving a combined 500,000 people were similarly challenged when PFAS levels above new state Department of Environmental Protection standards were reported at the end of 2021. Those systems face millions of dollars in expenses to buy filtering equipment. 

DUPONT SUED:Ridgewood Water sues DuPont and others over PFAS contamination

WATER CONTAMINATION:Ridgewood Water sues over alleged illegal toxic soil dumping at water supply site

PFAS CONTAMINANTS:High levels of PFAS chemicals found in 34 NJ drinking water systems affecting 500K+ people

“Without this federal assistance, this expensive treatment cost would have been placed solely on the Ridgewood Water consumers who draw from the Brunswick Aquifer,” Knudsen said Monday. “No family should need to singularly bear the financial brunt of this necessary infrastructure modernization as neither the utility nor the customers are responsible for placing this contaminant in the raw water source.”

The $2.8 million grant reflects the return of earmarks after a decade-long ban on congressionally directed funding. Dubbed the Community Funding Project, the initiative allows members of Congress to request direct funding for projects that benefit the communities they represent.

Marsha Stoltz is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

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Originally Appeared Here