Newark problems prompt questions about NYC school water safety

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NEWS) - Something is in the water at Newark schools. Nearly half of the city's school buildings had the water shut off after annual testing discovered high levels of lead. But at an event in Harlem Monday, Mayor Bill de Blasio reassured New Yorkers that the same kind of problem won't happen here.

Newark schools temporarily shut off all drinking water fountains at the affected buildings, and posted notices not to drink water from faucets. Officials say the lead comes from old pipes and fixtures that leach into the system.

In all, 30 of Newark's 67 school buildings showed elevated levels of lead, with some higher than the Environmental Protection Agency's recommended level of 15 parts per billion.

What's more, the Newark teachers union told Fox 5 the district knew there was potential for a lead contamination issue two years ago and didn't do enough to stop it

But Mayor de Blasio said that that is not the case in New York City. He said the city has a very rigorous water testing program. He said there is no indication of a problem in New York City schools.

All this comes as the eyes of the country are focused on Flint, Michigan, where a water crisis poisoned the city and left some homes with lead that was nearly twice as high as the EPA's guidelines.