When Newark’s lead water crisis erupted last week, officials began a mass-scale distribution of bottled water to 14,000 homes.

But the city’s faulty Pequannock treatment plant also pumps water to various neighboring towns. Lead is not coming from the source water, but from failed water treatment known as corrosion control that is causing the contaminant from old pipes and plumbing to leach into the drinking supply.

The city in May launched a new treatment that will take six months to a year to take full effect. But last week Newark announced troubling samples showing filters at two of three tested homes, meant to eliminate lead, weren’t working as expected.

That prompted a flurry of responses and questions from officials in other towns like Bloomfield and Nutley who say they’re taking steps to find alternate sources of water and disconnect their residents from Newark water. Bloomfield, Belleville and Pequannock have all exceeded allowable federal limits for lead in the drinking water.

Some towns are rushing to test their filters while others are directing residents concerned about lead to get their tap water tested.

“We’re urging people if they do have a concern to have their water tested before they go spend a lot of money that they may not need to,” said David Seugling, the water operator for Pequannock Township.

The township buys 40% of its water from Newark but does not have any lead service lines, Seugling said, meaning lead is likely coming from leaded solder in homes built between 1982 and 1987. Pequannock Township has not distributed filters.

Seugling said the town is also working on implementing its own corrosion control treatment this year because Newark’s water treatment installed further south in Montclair does not reach the town.

Immediately after Newark announced its plan to hand out more than 70,000 cases of bottled water, Bloomfield began testing some of the 3,000 filters it distributed to residents. On Friday, Mayor Michael Venezia announced five tested homes had come back clear.

“These water filters have been given to residents whose homes contain older plumbing faucets and fixtures of pipes, which may allow lead to build up in the home,” Venezia said. “We tested our source water and tests showed it had no detectable lead. Water enters our system entirely lead-free.”

Nutley, too, is testing its water filters, according to a notice on its website, and is recommending bottled water use for drinking and cooking for pregnant women or small children. The town said it’s working to switch the 436 homes that receive water from Newark to a different water source and replace all its known lead service lines. It’s not clear how many homes, if any, have exceeded allowable lead levels.

There is no safe level of lead but the federal government sets a threshold of 15 parts per billion. Water systems in which 10% of samples exceed that level must take action and inform residents.

Belleville did not respond to a request for comment but a notice on the town website said the situation regarding lead service lines leaching lead into the water did not apply to residents.

South Orange, East Orange and Raritan only purchase Newark water during emergencies.

Rutgers-Newark said its buildings were not impacted and did not have lead service lines. University officials said there was no need for alternate water sources.

The frenzy over Newark’s water prompted utilities as far as Camden to assure consumers their water could be trusted.

“Camden’s water is safe and even surpasses quality standards,” Camden Mayor Frank Moran said in a statement last week.

Elizabeth also receives treated water from Newark. Liberty Water Company-New Jersey American Water, which operates the water system, assured all its customers that its water systems were routinely tested and passed federal guidelines.

For more information:

Visit Pequannock’s Township website. The following labs are offering water testing: Agra Environmental and Laboratory Services, 973-989-0010; Aqua Pro-Tech Laboratories 973-227-0422; Garden State Laboratories, 908-688-8900; Integrated Analytical Laboratories, 973-361-4252.

Visit Bloomfileld’s website . The township is holding a meeting Monday night at 6 p.m. in the Civic Center at 84 Broad Street.

Visit Nutley’s website . Call 973-284-498 for free water testing.

Read more of NJ.com’s coverage of New Jersey water issues here.

[Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect Elizabeth also receives water from Newark.]

Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook.

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