Document addresses water quality programs, potable water Standard, and testing protocols to ensure safe drinking water.

(a) The rules in this subchapter for the provision of safe drinking water shall apply to all New Jersey public school districts, charter schools, renaissance schools, jointure commissions, educational services commissions, approved private schools for students with disabilities acting under contract to provide educational services on behalf of New Jersey public school districts, State-funded early childcare facilities pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:13A, and receiving schools as defined by N.J.A.C. 6A:14-7.1(a). Throughout this subchapter, "district board of education" refers to the governing authority for all of the entities identified in this subsection, unless otherwise indicated.

(b) District boards of education shall assure the availability of potable drinking water through sanitary means in school facilities or upon school grounds in accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Act, N.J.S.A. 58:12A-1 et seq., the rules promulgated pursuant thereto, N.J.A.C. 7:10 and 6A:26-6, Planning and Construction Standard for School Facilities.

(c) Testing of school drinking water quality shall be in accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Act, N.J.S.A. 58:12A-1 et seq., the rules promulgated pursuant thereto, N.J.A.C. 7:10 and 6A:26-6, Planning and Construction Standard for School Facilities.

(d) All district boards of education shall conduct lead sampling and analysis, as described in (d)1 and 2 below, in all drinking water outlets to which a student or staff member has or may have access, in each school facility, other facility, or temporary facility, as those terms are defined in this chapter, as soon as practicable, but no later than July 13, 2017. District boards of education may apply to the Department for an extension of this deadline of up to one year, upon written demonstration that there is no certified laboratory available to conduct testing by July 13, 2017. The extension request shall include evidence that the district board of education requested testing from at least three certified laboratories and the responses from the laboratories showing that the testing could not be completed within the designated time period.

• 1. Sampling shall be conducted in accordance with a lead sampling plan, which shall include:
• i. A plumbing survey for each facility that identifies how water enters and flows through each facility, the types of plumbing materials used in the facility, such as the service line, piping, solder, fixtures, drinking water outlets where students or staff have or may have access, and point of use treatment, such as drinking water filters;
• ii. The names and responsibilities of all individuals involved in sampling; and
• iii. The following sampling procedures:
• (1) Samples shall be taken after water has sat, undisturbed in the school pipes for at least eight hours but no more than 48 hours before the sample is taken;
• (2) At least eight hours prior to sampling, signs shall be posted to indicate that water shall not be used and access to the buildings subject to the sampling shall be restricted to all but authorized staff members;
• (3) Existing aerators, screens, and filters shall not be replaced or removed prior to or during sampling; and
• (4) All samples shall be collected in pre-cleaned high-density polyethylene (HDPE) 250 milliliter (mL) wide-mouth single-use rigid sample containers that are properly labeled.
• 2. Analysis of samples shall be conducted as follows:
• i. Analysis shall be conducted by a certified laboratory to analyze for lead in drinking water;
• ii. The laboratory shall use an approved analytical method pursuant to the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act at 40 CFR 141.23(k)(1); and
• iii. Sample analysis shall be conducted in accordance with a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP), which shall be signed by the district board of education, the certified laboratory, and the individual responsible for conducting sampling. The QAPP shall include the identification of analytical methods, chain of custody procedures, data validation and reporting processes, detection limits, reporting to three significant figures, field blanks, and quality control measures required by the certified method.
• 3. The Department, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), will develop a technical guidance manual to assist district boards of education in complying with the sampling and analysis requirements of this subchapter.

(e) Within 24 hours after the district board of education has reviewed [and verified] the final laboratory results, the district board of education shall:

• 1. Make the test results of all water samples publicly available at the school facility and on the district board of education’s website; and
• 2. If any results exceed the permissible lead action level, provide written notification to the parents/guardians of all students attending the facility, as well as to the Department. This notification shall include a description of the measures taken by the district board of education to immediately end use of each drinking water outlet where water quality exceeds the permissible lead action level, the measures taken to ensure that alternate drinking water has been made available to all students and staff members, and information regarding the health effects of lead.

(f) Notwithstanding the results of any prior testing, all district boards of education shall continue to test drinking water outlets as provided below:

• 1. Within six years following the initial testing set forth in (d) above and every six years thereafter, all district boards of education shall test all drinking water outlets. Sampling shall be prioritized, such that buildings and facilities that previously had outlets with results above the action level or identified in the plumbing profile as high risk for lead shall be sampled first in accordance with the sampling plan; and
• 2. All district boards of education shall sample for lead after the replacement of any drinking water outlet or any other alteration to plumbing or service lines that may impact lead levels at the outlet.

(g) All district boards of education shall submit to the Department on an annual basis by June 30 each year a statement of assurance that lead testing was completed in accordance with this subchapter, that notifications were provided consistent with this subchapter, and that alternate drinking water continues to be made available to all students and staff.

(h) A district board of education may apply to the Department for an exemption from the initial testing if the district board of education can demonstrate that it complied with or exceeded the testing requirements set forth in (d) above, including any required public notifications, by July 13, 2011. The district board of education shall provide to the Department information regarding the testing activities conducted, including the lead sampling plan and an analysis of the samples taken. A district board of education that receives an exemption from the Department from initial testing pursuant to this subsection shall make available for public inspection at the school facility and on the district board of education’s website, if applicable, the results of any prior testing and shall conduct testing within six years of the prior testing in accordance with (f) above.

(i) District boards of education may request an exemption from the testing requirements set forth in (d) above if they can demonstrate that they do not use any drinking water outlets for consumption or food preparation in any of their facilities. District boards of education seeking an exemption pursuant to this provision shall submit an application to the Department documenting that no drinking water outlets are used in their facilities and the provisions for an alternative source of drinking water. A district board of education that receives an exemption from the Department from testing pursuant to this subsection shall make available for public inspection at the school facility and on the district board of education’s website, if applicable, confirmation that the district board of education is exempt from testing. Within six years of receiving an exemption pursuant to this subsection, a district board of education shall either begin testing procedures in accordance with (f) above or reapply for an exemption under this subsection.

(j) All district boards of education are eligible to be reimbursed for the water supply testing and analysis conducted pursuant to (d) above after July 13, 2016. To receive reimbursement, the district board of education shall complete and submit to the Department a reimbursement application on a form or in a format supplied by the Department. The Department will make the reimbursement application available on its website. Nonpublic schools choosing to conduct testing in accordance with (d) above, may submit a reimbursement application to the Department, approval of which is subject to available funds.

(c) The comprehensive maintenance plan shall contain the following information: 6. A schedule for required radon testing for each school facility specifying the spaces to be tested every five years pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:20-40 and safe drinking-water testing per N.J.A.C. 7:10.

a. The principal of every public school who is required to prepare a Consumer Confidence Report pursuant to the “Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996,” 42 U.S.C. § 300f et al., or who receives a Consumer Confidence Report from the owner or operator of a public community water system, shall post each Consumer Confidence Report the principal prepares or receives in a conspicuous location near each major entrance to the public school. b. The principal of every public school who is a supplier of water but is not required to prepare a Consumer Confidence Report pursuant to the “Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996,” and who is required to conduct tests of its drinking water by the Department of Environmental Protection, shall post a chart setting forth the results of the water tests, including the level of detection and, as appropriate for each contaminant, the maximum contaminant level, highest level allowed, action level, treatment technique, or other expression of an acceptable level, for each contaminant, in a conspicuous location near each major entrance to the public school. The chart also shall include in bold print the statement required to be included in a Consumer Confidence Report pursuant to 40 CFR § 141.154 (a). The chart shall not include contaminants that are not detected. c. The provisions of this section shall be enforced by the Department of Education. The Department of Education shall not be required to conduct on-site inspections to determine compliance with this section more frequently than any on-site inspections of public schools are conducted by the department pursuant to any other law.

Document addresses water quality programs, potable water Standard, and testing protocols to ensure safe drinking water.

Document addresses water quality programs, potable water Standard, and testing protocols to ensure safe drinking water.

Site addresses water quality programs, potable water Standard, and testing protocols to ensure safe drinking water.