By Kevin Coughlin
Morristown Medical Center quietly has restored use of private well water at all but one of its facilities, which had been using bottled water since high lead levels were confirmed in late February.
“We have installed state-of-the-art water treatment technology and monitoring equipment, and will continue to work with the DEP and DOH to ensure the ongoing safety and quality of our well water by conducting state-mandated lead testing every six months,” spokeswoman Elaine Andrecovich said in a statement on Friday.
The well water was judged safe by the state departments of environmental protection and health on May 13, 2016, Andrecovich said.
“At this time, all buildings except one outpatient/administrative building have been restored to well water. The delay in restoring well water to that building is due to needed pipe work,” she said.
The remaining building was not identified.
Blood levels of more than 2,000 people were tested by the hospital after water samples from within the hospital tested dozens of times higher than the federal action limit of 15 parts per billion of the toxic metal.
One water source in the Meade 1 unit came back with a level 73 times over the limit.
The hospital did not disclose the cause of the contamination, or the costs of fixing it and performing blood tests.
“There will be no further comment on this matter as we focus our efforts on patient care and safety,” Andrecovich said.
Scientists have linked lead exposure with lower IQ in children; fetuses may absorb lead from their mothers’ bloodstream. Adults with kidney problems and high blood pressure also may be particularly vulnerable to lead exposure.
Governor Christie has called for lead testing of water at all New Jersey Public Schools. So far, it has been detected in at least five Morristown schools.
