The information below relates to the 2017 Mandatory Lead Testing Performed in the District

The Jackson Township Board of Education is committed to protecting the health of our students and staff. As required by the Department of Education regulations, all drinking water outlets in our facilities have been sampled for lead.

The Jackson Township Board of Education conducted lead drinking water sampling for Liberty High School, Goetz Middle School, Johnson Elementary, Crawford Elementary and Central Administration for March 11, 2017. Rosenauer Elementary School was sampled on March 16, 2017 and on March 19, 2017 we sampled Jackson Memorial High School, McAuliffe Middle School, Switlik Elementary, Holman Elementary, Elms Elementary and the Transportation Facility.

Please see the letters and resources below for district-wide information.

Building-specific results are to the right on this page.

District-Wide Lead Testing Results - Posted April 3, 2017

This is a letter with the district-wide results for testing done at Elms, Holman, Switlik, McAuliffe, Jackson Memorial, Transportation and two Jackson Liberty water fountains that were inoperable during the first round of testing.

District-Wide Lead Testing Results to Date - Posted March 23, 2017

This is a letter with the district-wide results for testing done at Crawford-Rodriguez, Johnson, Rosenauer, Goetz, Jackson Liberty and the Administration Building.

Lead Testing Action Plan - Posted March 9, 2017

This is the letter announcing our lead testing plan.

School District Lead Sampling Plan

Called the QAPP (Quality Assurance Project Plan), this is our district's plan for sampling all potable (drinkable) water sources in the district.

Jackson School District Water Outlet Inventory

This document lists all the locations that will be tested.

Jackson School District Water Filter Maintenance Plan

This document demonstrates our compliance with state laws regarding water filter maintenance.

Jackson School District Water Filter Inventory

This is the inventory and replacement schedule for water filters in use in the district.

Why Test School Drinking Water for Lead?

High levels of lead in drinking water can cause health problems. Lead is most dangerous for pregnant women, infants, and children under 6 years of age. It can cause damage to the brain and kidneys, and can interfere with the production of red blood cells that carry oxygen to all parts of your body. Exposure to high levels of lead during pregnancy contributes to low birth weight and developmental delays in infants.

In young children, lead exposure can lower IQ levels, affect hearing, reduce attention span, and hurt school performance. At very high levels, lead can even cause brain damage. Adults with kidney problems and high blood pressure can be affected by low levels of lead more than healthy adults.

How Lead Enters our Water

Lead is unusual among drinking water contaminants in that it seldom occurs naturally in water supplies like groundwater, rivers and lakes. Lead enters drinking water primarily as a result of the corrosion, or wearing away, of materials containing lead in the water distribution system and in building plumbing. These materials include lead-based solder used to join copper pipe, brass, and chrome-plated brass faucets. In 1986, Congress banned the use of lead solder containing greater than 0.2% lead, and restricted the lead content of faucets, pipes and other plumbing materials. However, even the lead in plumbing materials meeting these new requirements is subject to corrosion. When water stands in lead pipes or plumbing systems containing lead for several hours or more, the lead may dissolve into the drinking water. This means the first water drawn from the tap in the morning may contain fairly high levels of lead.

Lead in Drinking Water

Lead in drinking water, although rarely the sole cause of lead poisoning can significantly increase a person’s total lead exposure, particularly the exposure of children under the age of 6. EPA estimates that drinking water can make up 20% or more of a person’s total exposure to lead.

For More Information

A copy of the test results is available in our central office for inspection by the public, including students, teachers, other school personnel, and parents, and can be viewed between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

For more information about water quality in our schools, contact Anthony Bruno, Director of Buildings and Grounds at (732) 833-4653.

For more information on reducing lead exposure around your home and the health effects of lead, visit EPA’s Web site at www.epa.gov/lead, call the National Lead Information Center at 800- 424-LEAD, or contact your health care provider.

If you are concerned about lead exposure at this facility or in your home, you may want to ask your health care providers about testing children to determine levels of lead in their blood.