New Jersey Future Calls for Water Filters to Protect Families from Lead in Drinking Water

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New Jersey Future Calls for Water Filters to Protect Families from Lead in Drinking Water

06/25/2026

by New Jersey Future

Certified Filters Provide Immediate Protection as Lead Line Replacement Continues

TRENTON, NJ, June 25, 2026—New Jersey Future calls on state leaders to take immediate action to protect families from lead exposure in drinking water by expanding access to certified water filters in communities at the highest risk.

New Jersey has committed to replacing all lead service lines by 2031, but many families remain exposed in the meantime due to aging infrastructure, access barriers, and delays in replacement. There is no safe level of lead exposure, and children are especially vulnerable to its irreversible health effects.

“New Jersey has made important progress on long-term solutions, but families cannot wait years for safe drinking water. No family should have to question whether their water is safe to drink,” said Deandrah Cameron, Policy Manager, New Jersey Future. “By pairing long-term infrastructure investment with immediate protections like expanding state coverage of filter distribution, New Jersey can lead the nation in ensuring every child has access to safe, clean drinking water.”

New Jersey Future is advancing a proposal to support the distribution of NSF/ANSI-certified point-of-use water filters — such as pitcher, faucet-mounted, and under-sink systems — to households known or suspected to have elevated lead levels. These filters are proven to significantly reduce lead in drinking water when properly used, providing a practical and effective safeguard while infrastructure improvements continue.

As part of this effort, New Jersey Future is advancing policy solutions to allow certified water filters to be covered under New Jersey’s Section 1115 Medicaid waiver, helping ensure that low-income families can access this preventive health measure. Currently, Medicaid covers screening and treatment for lead exposure, but does not cover preventive measures such as filters, leaving a critical gap.

A recent white paper published by Lead-Free NJ and Jersey Water Works found that expanding Section 1115 to include coverage for NSF/ANSI-certified lead-reducing water filters offers a timely and evidence-based opportunity to close a critical gap in lead exposure prevention.

The program would prioritize vulnerable populations, including families with young children, low-income households, renters, and residents of older housing with the highest lead exposure risks. Drinking water can account for up to 20 percent of total lead exposure, and up to 60 percent for infants, making immediate intervention critical.

While replacing lead pipes remains the ultimate solution, that work will take time. In the interim, providing certified filters is a cost-effective way to reduce exposure, prevent long-term health impacts, and help families access safe drinking water now.