Gov. Murphy to tour Newark water distribution center as residents rally against water crisis

NEWARK, N.J. — Gov. Phil Murphy will meet with Newark residents Wednesday afternoon and tour one of four bottled water distribution centers amid the city's efforts to get drinkable water to those whose tap water has tested dangerously high for lead.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka is facing backlash from residents, whose frustrations flared Tuesday when bottled water being distributed was found to be expired.

The city stated that water does not expire, and the old cases are safe to drink, but they temporarily halted distribution and ordered fresh water for delivery the following day.

Yet the residents of Newark have been told the water is safe to drink twice before and the truth turned out to be otherwise.

"We are very, very concerned," said Donna Jackson, a Newark resident.

Just a year ago, city officials told residents the tap water was safe to drink, and then later announced that elevated levels of lead were found in the drinking water.

About eight months ago, the city started to hand out almost 40,000 water filters. Officials told residents that filtered water was safe to drink.

Then, just this week, the city disclosed that two out of three homes tested show the filters are failing.

The city is working to dig up old lead service lines and they have introduced a new water treatment method to try and stop lead from leaching off the pipes.

"I guess they're trying to do something," said another resident. "Something is better than nothing."

The head of University Hospital in Newark tweeted Tuesday that all discharged patients will get bottled water and information on how to get more.

Sen. Cory Booker has called on the federal government to step in and help Newark residents get access to safe drinking water.