24 drinking-water taps tested above the lead limit, then were fixed

What happened

The district's most recent published lead-in-drinking-water assurance letter reports that 384 samples were taken from drinking-water outlets at all thirteen Howell school buildings in late December 2024. All but 24 came back below New Jersey's action level of 15 parts per billion. The letter states the district took remedial action at the 24 outlets that tested high and re-sampled them to confirm the lead level had dropped below the action level.

Why it matters to families

Lead in drinking water matters most for children, and New Jersey requires schools to test, fix and report. The useful detail for families is both that a small share of taps tested high and that the district says it fixed and retested them, so parents can ask which outlets were involved in their child's school.

The evidence

The 2024 Lead in Drinking Water Statement of Assurance addressed to the New Jersey Department of Education states sampling was conducted December 21, 22, 23 and 27, 2024 at thirteen facilities under N.J.A.C. 6A:26-12.4, that 384 samples were analyzed, that all but 24 were below the 15 ppb action level, and that remedial action and follow-up sampling were completed for those 24 locations. The scanned letter carries no signature date and the district posted it in May 2026.

The source