While the recent discovery of lead in water in Newark and in Flint, Michigan has many people concerned, the chair of The Citizens Action Committee on Childhood Cancer Cluster is assuring Toms River residents their water is safe.

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"If there's one thing that the people of Toms River can really say is that they have the safest water in the country," said Linda Gillick, after spearheading efforts two decades ago to get the state to investigate a spike in childhood cancer rates.

"One of the things that has been going on since the investigation is, I meet every single month with the water company to make sure that our water is right where it should be," said Gillick, referring to Suez Water, formerly known as United Water Toms River.

"We've turned this company around from being a knee-jerk reactive to a proactive, to make sure that they're constantly on top of what is necessary to protect the water that we are drinking," Gillick said.

Gillick pointed out that the problem with the lead they've been finding in other parts of the state and country is basically inside individual residences, which is the responsibility of the home owner.

"I can remember when the investigation started [into the spike in childhood cancer rates] that we were all told no matter what, we should let our water run at least 2 minutes every morning before we start to drink from it or whatever, to clear out any problems within our own homes, especially for lead," said Gillick.

Lead is one of the target chemicals regularly tested for in water, according to Gillick, and she cautioned that in addition to checking for it in the source of water, it should also be tested for at the tap.

"People have to be aware that you have to check everywhere, not just where the water comes from, but when it's coming into your tap, or into your school, or into your hospital, you need to be aware of what is coming out of that faucet," Gillick said.

On Monday, New Jersey lawmakers proposed a measure calling for the immediate testing of lead in drinking water at all public schools in the wake of contamination being found in Newark schools earlier this month.

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