Shade Tree - USR Today

Shade Tree Joe 2017-12-27T01:00:45+00:00

Upper Saddle RiverFollow

Eagle Rim Road will be closed in both directions due to a gas line break for approximatly 3-6 hours. Residents of Eagle Rim Road will be without gas during this time. PSE&G will contact residents once the break is fixed to restore gas in all residences.

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Upper Saddle River @USRupdates·

16 Feb

Boro Hall will be closed on Monday, February 18, 2019 in observance of Presidents Day. Garbage pickup will take place as scheduled.

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Upper Saddle River @USRupdates·

16 Feb

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Upper Saddle River @USRupdates·

15 Feb

Drop off no longer needed plastic toys at the Recycling Depot on Saturdays from 8 am to noon.

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Upper Saddle River @USRupdates·

11 Feb

Reminder!! Dog and Cat Licenses Due by February 15: There is a $5 late fee for dogs and cats registered after February 15, 2019.
The new 2019 certificates & tags have been available at Boro Hall starting January 2019. https://t.co/wdDeSnrqwA

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19 hours ago ·

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Adult Walk-In Health Clinic: Thursday, February 28, 2019 from noon-1 p.m. at Borough Hall. Services include a Health History Evaluation, Blood Pressure Measurement, Height and Weight, Individualized Counseling and Education, Referral and Follow-up and a Confidential Consultation with a Public Health Nurse. This is free of charge to adult USR residents on the 4th Thursday of each month through the Borough’s contract with the County of Bergen Health Department. For more information, please call 201-327-2196. ... See MoreSee Less

2 days ago ·

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Boro Hall will be closed on Monday, February 18, 2019 in observance of Presidents Day. Garbage pickup will take place as scheduled. ... See MoreSee Less

1 week ago ·

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SUEZ WATER FACTS
As we have reported to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, our water quality testing program has found elevated levels of lead in the drinking water in a limited number of homes in Bergen and Hudson counties.

The water leaving our plant has no detectable level of lead. In addition, we have no lead water mains. The likely source of lead in the drinking water is from the service lines – pipes that extend from the water mains in the street to individual homes and businesses, and from lead plumbing, solder and fixtures in customer homes.

Water quality is so important to us that we perform nearly 50,000 tests each year in this system alone. One part of our rigorous testing program is to test for lead in the water, and when we do, we test homes known to be served by lead service lines. All of the 108 homes we recently tested had lead service lines and the results showed lead levels above the government standard in 15 of those homes.

Less than 5 percent of the utility-owned service lines in our system – we own the pipe from the main to the property line — contain lead. An additional 12 percent of our system has lead goosenecks – a short piece of flexible piping that connects a water main to a service line.

TAKING ACTION
To control lead from leaching into the water, SUEZ has had a corrosion control treatment program in place for decades. Essentially, this coats the pipes to prevent lead from entering the water supply. We continue to rigorously monitor our system and will test for the next 12 months to make sure that our corrosion control treatment is working exactly as it should.

In addition to corrosion control, every time that SUEZ is doing work in the ground and finds lead, it is removed. SUEZ is now expanding that program to more specifically target lead service line replacements in the system. The ultimate goal is to remove all lead in the system.

STEPS SUEZ IS TAKING FOR CUSTOMERS
• Customers who are served or may be served by a utility-owned lead service line or gooseneck can request a test of their drinking water by calling our customer service center at 800-422-5987
• If a test result is above the government’s standard, we will provide a water pitcher with a filter that removes lead from drinking water
• We have established a new water quality website – www.SUEZWQ.com -- that provides further details about lead in the drinking water
• For more information or to determine if you are served by a utility-owned lead service line: Check your online account, visit www.SUEZWQ.com or www.mysuezwater.com/njwq, email us at sueznjcustserv@suez-na.com or call our customer service center at 800-422-5987

FAQs
Q: Is my water safe to drink?
SUEZ takes the safety of the drinking water seriously. The water leaving the treatment plant has no detectable level of lead. SUEZ rigorously monitors the water – conducting nearly 50,000 tests a year. This is an issue with the service lines and interior plumbing of homes. If customers are among the less than 5 percent in the system served by a utility-owned lead service line, the 12 percent with lead goosenecks, or there are lead fixtures in the home, there is the possibility that lead could enter the drinking water. Even so, it is not certain lead will be found in the water – remember that SUEZ tested 108 homes with lead lines and 16 of those were above the safety standard. That is why SUEZ is providing testing for customers with lead lines.

Q: To whom does this notice apply?
This applies to our customers in Bergen and Hudson counties.
The notice does not apply to Franklin Lakes, Allendale or Saddle River. It also does not apply to residents in municipalities that contract with SUEZ to operate their water systems. This includes Jersey City, Bayonne, Hoboken, Rahway, Kearny and Orange.

Q: What are the health effects of lead?
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control suggests that long-term exposure to lead in water is a concern for infants, young children and pregnant women. Lead can cause serious health issues because it can lead to neurological and kidney damage and interfere with the body’s production of red blood cells. Risk will vary, however, depending on the individual, the circumstances, and the amount of water consumed. For more information, consult a health professional.

Q: What can I do to lessen my exposure to lead if it is present?
Before using any tap water for drinking or cooking, flush your water system by running the kitchen tap (or any other tap you take drinking or cooking water from) on COLD for 1–2 minutes. Never use hot water from the faucet for drinking or cooking, especially when making baby formula or food for infants. Routinely clean faucet screens (also called aerators) at the tip of your faucet. Sediment and metals can collect in faucet screens. More information is available on SUEZWQ.

Q: If my water is found to have high lead levels, is it safe to take a bath or shower?
Yes. As per the Centers for Disease Control, bathing and showering should be safe for you and your children, even if the water contains lead over EPA’s action level. Human skin does not absorb lead in water.

Q: How does lead get into the drinking water?
Lead can enter drinking water from service lines made of lead, lead goosenecks, and from lead pipes, solder and fixtures inside homes. Service lines are pipes that extend from water mains to individual residences or businesses. Water quality professionals rigorously test the safety of water distributed from SUEZ treatment plants in Northern New Jersey and continue to find NO detectable levels of lead.

Other indoor plumbing pipes and fixtures may contain lead that could enter your drinking water, including lead solder that connects pipes in your home as well as brass faucets. Homes or buildings built prior to 1986 are more likely to have lead pipes, fixtures and solder. Lead service lines are typically only present in older homes, but older brass faucets with lead content can be found in newer homes.

Q: Who owns the service line?
SUEZ owns the portion of the service line that runs from the water main to the homeowner’s property line, while the customer owns the remaining portion that extends from the property line into the home or business.

Q: How do I know if my home has a lead service line or fixtures?
To find out if the SUEZ portion of the service pipe or gooseneck has lead, customers can check their online account, visit www.SUEZWQ.com or www.mysuezwater.com/njwq, or call or email our customer service center at 800-422-5987 and sueznjcustserv@suez-na.com. SUEZ customer service representatives are available to answer questions, including those about lead lines and testing.

Customers still need to determine the material used in their portion of the line. To determine if a home’s service line is made of lead, customers (or your plumber) need to inspect the line. Lead service lines are generally a dull gray color and are very soft. You can identify them easily by carefully scratching with a flat-tipped screwdriver. If the pipe is made of lead, scratched area will turn a bright silver color. Do not use a knife or other sharp instrument and take care not to puncture a hole in the pipe. (A video that demonstrates how to conduct a scratch test is available at www.SUEZWQ.com.) A qualified plumber can also determine if the home contains lead-based plumbing fixtures.

SUEZ recommends that customers who have lead service lines on their properties hire a licensed contractor to replace the line. If replacing pipes and household plumbing is not an option, many water filters are effective in removing lead. Be sure to check the label or contact the manufacturer to confirm the filter is certified for lead removal. More information about how to reduce exposure can be found at SUEZWQ.

Q: Should I have my children tested for lead in their blood?
If you are concerned about lead exposure, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection recommends contacting your local health department or healthcare provider to find out how you can get tested for lead. Your family doctor or pediatrician can perform a blood test for lead and provide you with information about the health effects.

Q. How do I get my water tested if my address is not on the list of utility-owned lead lines?
Customers who may be concerned can contact a laboratory that will perform a test. The following labs are among those listed on the DEP’s water quality website:

AGRA Environmental and Laboratory Services -- 973-989-0010
APL (Aqua Pro-Tech Laboratories) -- 973-227-0422
EMSL -- 856-303-2546
Eurofins Eaton Analytical -- 800-332-4345
Garden State Laboratories -- 908-688-8900
Hampton- Clarke -- 973-244-9770

For more information, visit SUEZWQ.com. ... See MoreSee Less

1 week ago ·

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Suez is mailing the following information to USR residents, schools and health officials regarding elevated levels of lead in their public water. If you use a private well, as most do in the borough, this does not affect your residence. Information on private well testing can be found at www.usrtoday.org under the Board of Health.

SUEZ Water IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT LEAD IN YOUR DRINKING WATER

SUEZ found elevated levels of lead in drinking water in some homes/buildings. Lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Please read this information closely to see what you can do to reduce lead in your drinking water.

Specifically, 108 samples were collected at residences served by SUEZ Hackensack between July 16, 2018 and December 12, 2018, and 15 of the results exceeded the Lead Action Level of 15 ppb.

Health Effects of Lead

Lead can cause serious health problems if too much enters your body from drinking water or other sources. It can cause damage to the brain and kidneys, and can interfere with the production of red blood cells that carry oxygen to all parts of your body. The greatest risk of lead exposure is to infants, young children and pregnant women. Scientists have linked the effects of lead on the brain with lowered IQ in children. Adults with kidney problems and high blood pressure can be affected by low levels of lead more than healthy adults. Lead is stored in the bones and can be released later in life. During pregnancy, a child receives lead from a mother’s bones which may affect brain development.

Sources of Lead

Lead is a common metal found in the environment. Drinking water is one possible source of lead exposure. The main sources of lead exposure are lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust or soil, and some plumbing materials. In addition, lead can be found in certain types of pottery, pewter, brass fixtures, cosmetics, imported spices and other food. Other sources include exposure in the workplace and exposure from certain hobbies, like shooting ranges.

Lead enters drinking water primarily as a result of the corrosion, or wearing away, of materials containing lead in the water distribution system and household plumbing. These materials include lead-based solder used to join copper pipe, brass and chrome-brass faucets, and in some cases, pipes made of lead that connect houses and buildings to water mains (service lines).

Brass faucets, fittings and valves, including those advertised as “lead-free”, may contribute lead to drinking water. The law currently allows end-use brass fixtures, such as faucets, with up to 0.25 percent lead to be labeled as “lead-free”. However, prior to January 4, 2014, “lead-free” allowed up to 8 percent lead content of the wetted surfaces of plumbing products including those labeled National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) certified. Consumers should be aware of their current fixtures and take appropriate precautions.

The EPA estimates that up to 20 percent of a person’s potential exposure to lead may come from drinking water. Infants who consume mostly formula mixed with lead-containing water may receive 40 to 60 percent of their exposure to lead from drinking water.

When water stands in lead pipes or plumbing systems containing lead for several hours or more, the lead may dissolve into your drinking water. This means the first water drawn from the tap in the morning, or later in the afternoon if the water has not been used all day, may contain elevated levels of lead.

Steps you can take to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water

1. Test your water for lead. Customers can contact an independent laboratory to have their water tested for lead. The NJDEP maintains a list of certified laboratories. To access this list, please visit www13.state.nj.us/DataMiner. Once there, click Search by Category then select Certified Laboratories from the Report Category drop down box. Then click on the Submit button and under Certified Laboratories choose Drinking Water Certified Lead Labs.

2. Run the water and flush out lead. Let the water run from the tap before using it for drinking or cooking any time the water in the faucet has gone unused for more than six hours. The longer the water resides in plumbing the more lead it contains. Flushing the tap means running the cold water faucet for about 15 to 30 seconds. Although toilet flushing or showering flushes water through a portion of the plumbing system, you still need to flush the water in each faucet before using it for drinking or cooking. Flushing tap water is a simple and inexpensive measure you can take to protect your health. It usually uses less than one gallon of water. For those with lead service lines or until you determine if you are served by one, let the water run from the tap based on the length of the lead service line and the plumbing configuration in your home.

3. Use cold water for cooking and preparing baby formula. Do not cook with or drink water from the hot water tap. Hot water can dissolve lead more quickly than cold water. If you need hot water, draw the water from the cold tap and then heat it. Do not use water from the hot water tap to make baby formula.

4. Do not boil water to remove lead. Boiling water will not reduce lead.

5. Remove and clean aerators/screens on plumbing fixtures. Over time, particles and sediment can collect in the aerator screen usually found at the tip of indoor faucets. Regularly remove and clean aerators screens and remove any particles.

6. Look for alternative sources or treatment of water. You may want to consider purchasing bottled water or a water filter if there is lead in your home. Be sure the filter is approved to reduce lead or contact NSF International at 1-800-NSF-8010 or www.nsf.org for information on performance standards for water filters. Be sure to maintain and replace a filter device in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.

7. Proper and routine maintenance of water softeners. It is very important that residents manage their water softeners appropriately. Not properly maintaining your water softener could have a negative impact on the corrosivity of the water in your home.

8. Get your child tested. Contact your local health department or healthcare provider to find out how you can get tested for lead if you are concerned about lead exposure. Your family doctor or pediatrician can perform a blood test for lead and provide you with information about the health effects of lead.

What is being done?

In order to address potential lead issues, SUEZ enhanced its corrosion control treatment – considered industry best practice -- in 2017 to reduce scale and lead and copper deposits. Since that time, the company has carefully monitored the levels of corrosion control and continues to evaluate the treatment and will make adjustments as necessary. SUEZ is also continuing to test homes throughout its system and to further optimize corrosion control within the system.

SUEZ has been replacing lead service lines in its service territory for a number of years and now as required under the Lead and Copper Rule, will upgrade its program to replace at least 7 percent of all its lead service lines per year. During lead service line replacement, we are required to offer to replace the property-owner’s portion of the lead service line; however, we are not responsible for the cost. The portion of the service line that runs from our water mains to your property line is owned by the utility, including the pipe connecting the water main to the service line, which is often referred to as a gooseneck or a pigtail. The remaining portion that extends from your property line into your home or business belongs to the property owner. Property owners are encouraged to check their portion of the lines for lead and we are asking you to notify SUEZ at 800-422-5987 if a lead service line is identified so we can update our records.

SUEZ is also taking these steps:

▪ SUEZ has established a new water quality website – www.SUEZWQ.com -- to provide information about this exceedance.
▪ Customers who are/might be served by a utility-owned lead service line or their service line is connected to the water main by a lead gooseneck, based on SUEZ’s records, can request a free test of the water from their lead service line or lead gooseneck (flushed sample). Customers should call or email SUEZ’s customer service center at 800-422-5987 or sueznjcustserv@suez-na.com.
▪ Following this sampling conducted by SUEZ, if the water result from the utility owned lead service line/lead gooseneck (flushed sample) is above the lead action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb), a one-time free water pitcher with a WQA-certified filter that removes lead will be provided to a customer.
▪ Customers who do not have a utility-owned lead service line or lead gooseneck, can visit www.SUEZWQ.com or call SUEZ’s customer service center at 800-422-5987 for information on how to get their water tested for lead by a NJ certified laboratory at their own expense.
▪ Customers can find out if they may be served by a utility-owned lead line or if the utility-owned sevice line material is unknown, by checking their online account, visiting www.SUEZWQ.com or www.mysuezwater.com/njwq, or calling or emailing customer service center at 800-422-5987 and SUEZnjcustserv@suez-na.com. SUEZ will not have information on whether or not the property-owner’s portion is lead and whether or not a utility owned lead gooseneck is present. SUEZ customer service representatives are available to answer questions, including those about lead service lines and testing.

For more information about this facility’s water supply and what is being done to reduce lead levels, please call us at 1-800-422-5987. Please also call this number to obtain a translated copy of the public education materials or to request assistance in the appropriate language.

Por favor llamar 1-800-422-5987 para obtener una copia traducida de los materiales de educacción pública o para solicitar asistencia en español.

For more information on reducing lead exposure around your home/building and the health effects of lead, visit the EPA’s website at www.epa.gov/lead, call the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD or the Safe Drinking Water Act hotline at 1-800-426-4791 or contact your health care provider or visit New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s website at www.state.nj.us/dep/watersupply/dwc-lead-consumer.html.

This notice is being sent to the SUEZ Water New Jersey Hackensack, New Jersey Public Water Supply (NJPWS) Identification Number NJ0238001. ... See MoreSee Less