The township’s drinking water has lower lead levels, fewer traces of disinfection by-products and is safe to drink, according to the latest water quality report.

One of the reasons for the lower levels is because Newark – which supplies Belleville with its water – has changed to a new water operator, explained Township Engineer Thomas Herits. With the traces of disinfection by-products, Herits said that Newark, like many other municipalities, uses chlorine to treat its water.

HAA5, a group of disinfection by-products, sometimes forms when chlorine that is used to treat water reacts with other naturally occurring chemicals in the water. According to a public education notice distributed by Belleville, there are no short-term health risks.

To have any long-term health risks, a person would have to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water every day for 70 years to have a one-in-a-million chance of having possible adverse effects related to HAA5.
Hertis said that although it’s not reflected in the latest water quality report, the township’s lead levels were again below New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection acceptable levels in the first quarter of 2021.

For more information, contact the Belleville Water Department at 973-450-3414.

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