News Briefs: New Jersey Nixes Lead Line Replacements Due to Budget Issues

Many residents in New Jersey will likely be waiting much longer than expected to have their lead service lines replaced, thanks to a potential $10 billion shortfall in the state budget due to COVID-19 shutdowns. Gov. Phil Murphy says the budget shortfall requires the state to nix the $80 million it hoped to allocate this year for the replacement of lead service lines that are contaminating people’s drinking water supplies with unsafe levels of lead.One exception is the city of Newark, which will continue its lead service line replacement program, as it has secured funding via a $130 million bond from