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The Town of Newton has introduced Ordinance 2024-19, which would mandate the replacement of lead and galvanized-steel water pipes by property owners. The ordinance, set for a public hearing on June 24, is a response to high lead levels in drinking water, which can cause significant health risks, including lasting damage to brain development in children.
Under the proposed law, the town will fund the replacements or reimburse owners who choose to use their own contractors. The ordinance also requires inspections of all properties served by the water system and imposes fines for non-compliance. Property owners who refuse to replace illegal water lines could face a maximum fine of $250 per day, up to a total of $5,000, and a jail sentence of up to 90 days.
The town is currently inspecting its century-old water system to identify lead or galvanized mains and service lines. There is a reimbursement schedule in the state program which allows the town to recoup some or all of its costs.
The ordinance is in line with a 2021 law signed by Governor Phil Murphy that requires community water systems in New Jersey to identify all lead and galvanized service lines, notify the public about their presence, and replace those pipes by 2031.