NJDOE Announces Opening of School Lead Filters Program

On Wednesday, April 8, the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) published a broadcast memo announcing the opening of the School Lead Filters Program for filtered bottle-filling stations and filtered faucets. The program, established pursuant to P.L.2025, c.76, provides one-time reimbursement for the purchase and installation of point-of-use filtered bottle-filling stations and filtered faucets in public school districts. It is intended to help districts address lead in drinking water at the point of use and expand access to safe drinking water for students and staff. Districts are encouraged to prioritize drinking water outlets with documented water quality concerns or elevated lead levels.

Funding and Eligible Equipment and Costs

All New Jersey public school districts are eligible to participate. Each district is eligible to receive an allocation determined by the number of students reported for state aid purposes in grades preschool through twelve in the 2025-2026 school year, adjusted for a minimum allocation of $1,000. District allocations can be found in the table in the broadcast memo.

Awards will be issued on a reimbursement basis following the completion of eligible work. Qualifying costs, up to the district’s allocated allowance, incurred on or after July 1, 2024, are eligible for reimbursement. Eligible costs are limited to the purchase and installation of filtered fixtures in school buildings as described below and may include up to one year of replacement filters per funded fixture.

Point-of-use filtered bottle-filling stations must:

  • Be designed to fill drinking bottles or other containers for personal water consumption and include a drinking fountain;
  • Be connected to the building’s potable water distribution system;
  • Have a light or other device to signal when filters require replacement;
  • Be certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for lead reduction and NSF/ANSI Standard 42 for particulate removal; and
  • Have a flow rate through the station that is paired to the specified flow rate of the filter cartridge.

Point-of-use filtered faucets must:

  • Be certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for lead reduction and NSF/ANSI Standard 42 for particulate removal; and
  • Be connected to building plumbing.

Application Requirements

District seeking reimbursement must upload the following documents in NJDOE Homeroom:

  • A completed reimbursement application;
  • Paid invoice(s) for completed work that includes the date, impacted schools, the number and type of fixtures installed, and equipment, installation, and replacement filter costs; and
  • A Board of Education Resolution affirming or acknowledging the application.

Timeline

A complete application must be submitted on or before September 30, 2026.

Applications will be reviewed and approved on a rolling basis, and reimbursements will be processed as eligible submissions are received and verified.

Contact Information For questions and assistance, please email leadtesting@doe.nj.gov. Additional information can also be found on the Office of School Facilities webpage