A 10K race used as a fundraiser to support lead screening for children in Newark was held by the United Way’s Healthy Kids initiative.
The race began at the redesigned Military Park in Downtown Newark with over 500 participants running the course route that viewed the campuses of Rutgers, NJIT and Essex County College and passes City Hall, The Prudential Center (The Rock), and the historic Essex County Courthouse.
According to organizers, earlier this year, Newark Public School officials had to shut down the water fountains in 38 of its district schools.
As a result, water in these schools can now only be used for flushing toilets and washing dishes, with all drinking and cooking water coming from donated bottles of water.
The lead levels in Newark's water ranged from 15.6 parts per billion to 558 ppb —above the EPA's "so-called" action level of 15 ppb.
Students in Newark, already affected by poverty, violence and a lack of general resources did not ask for, nor should they suffer from a lack of clean and safe drinking water during the school day.
There are potentially 40,000 students affected. To date only 2,000 have been tested. Many more need to be tested.
All families need to be informed and educated on this serious matter.