EDISON, N.J. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to demonstrate two new minimally invasive technologies for locating lead service lines next week at its research facility in Edison, the agency said Wednesday.
The Nov. 10 event at the EPA Edison Environmental Center on Woodbridge Avenue will showcase what the agency calls a test bed for lead pipe identification research. According to the EPA, the facility is advancing technology meant to help communities find lead pipes and address lead in drinking water faster and at lower cost.
Lead service lines, the pipes that connect homes to water mains, are a major source of lead in tap water. Identifying where they are buried has been a costly and time-consuming first step for utilities required to replace them.
Scheduled speakers include Teresa Booeshaghi, associate administrator of the EPA Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions, and Michael Martucci, the EPA’s Region 2 administrator, whose region includes New Jersey.
Academic researchers will also take part: Fridon Shubitidze, director of the ElectroMagnetic Sensing Group at Dartmouth, and Ivan Bartoli, head of the civil engineering program at Drexel University.
The program includes live demonstrations of the detection technologies, a discussion of strategies for dealing with lead in drinking water and a question-and-answer session with EPA leaders and researchers, the agency said. The demonstration is set to begin at 10:30 a.m., with a press portion at 11:15 a.m.
The Edison center is a secure federal facility, and the EPA said credentialed reporters must RSVP in advance to attend.
This report is based on a press release from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
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