Newark seeks to fix lead problem

NEW JERSEY (FOX 5 NEWS) - With 8 more Newark schools testing positive for high lead levels and 30 buildings within the school district using other sources of water, Mayor Ras Baraka says the only way to fix the city's lead problem for good is to fix its water system.

He and a coalition of advocates are pushing for a plan known as the smart container bill. It puts a 10-cent deposit on all plastic and glass bottles and aluminum cans. That money will help pay for the cost of updating the city's water infrastructure.

Officials have called for lead testing at every school in Newark. Every Saturday in April four schools across the city will open their doors for kids to get tested for lead.

So how much money would a bottle deposit raise to help cover this, billion dollar problem? While Assemblywoman Valerie Huttle says there is no exact estimate, she points to other states, including New York, that have about $20 million in revenue.