Lead in Water

Understanding the Context

Lead, a neurotoxin, is especially harmful to children under six years old due to their rapid brain and nervous system development. It can negatively impact growth, behavior, and learning abilities in children.

Recent data from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) indicates that 88% of samples from Illinois schools have detected some level of lead in water. This widespread issue underscores the importance of proactive measures and continuous monitoring.

Our Proactive Measures

In response to this statewide concern, we have implemented a lead testing and mitigation program. This goes beyond the minimum requirements to ensure the highest standards for our schools.

  • Initial Testing: We first tested all water fixtures in 2017, establishing a baseline for our mitigation efforts.
  • Installation of Filtered Drinking Fountains: To reduce lead exposure, we’ve installed filtered drinking fountains in common areas across all schools. These fountains are maintained regularly to ensure their effectiveness.
  • Discontinuing Use of Older Fixtures: Following our initial tests, we stopped using older classroom water fixtures for drinking, as they were more likely to have higher lead levels.
  • Regular Flushing of Systems: Our maintenance teams regularly flush the water systems to reduce lead accumulation in water that remains stagnant in pipes.
  • Periodic Re-Testing: We conduct ongoing lead testing to monitor and address any changes or potential risks.

Understanding Lead in Plumbing

Lead was commonly used in plumbing materials until 1988. As a result, older buildings are more likely to have lead in water. The risk increases when water remains in contact with these materials for extended periods (e.g., overnight, weekends, holidays, summer).

A child’s risk from lead exposure varies based on factors like age, weight, water consumption, and lead concentration in the water. Other significant lead sources include paint, soil, and dust. Blood lead testing, which should be discussed with a physician, is the only definitive way to assess a child’s lead level.

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Ensuring Transparency and Safety

We are committed to keeping our school community informed. All testing results and safety measures are available below. For more information about our water testing program or sampling results, please contact us.

Locations and Sources Exceeding 5 Parts Per Billion

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) has established an “action level” for fixtures with lead concentrations that exceed 15 parts per billion (0.015 milligrams per liter). However, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) requires that schools notify parents of any sample that exceeds 5 ppb. Samples from the following locations and sources exceed 5 ppb:

Alice Gustafson School

Sample Date Room Room Type Fixture Type
10/25/2017 104 Office Sink
10/25/2017 106 Workroom Sink
10/25/2017 109 Classroom Sink
10/25/2017 130 Mechanical Room Bleed valve
10/25/2017 132 Office Sink

J.B. Nelson School

Sample Date Room Room Type Fixture Type
11/22/2017 100 Classroom Sink
11/22/2017 101 Classroom Sink
11/22/2017 102 Classroom Sink
11/22/2017 105 Classroom Sink
11/22/2017 106 Classroom Sink
11/22/2017 114 Classroom Sink
11/22/2017 116 Classroom Sink
11/22/2017 125 Classroom Sink
11/22/2017 160 Mechanical Bleed valve
11/22/2017 126 Classroom Sink
11/22/2017 126B Kitchen Sink
11/22/2017 129 Classroom Sink

H.C. Storm School

Sample Date Room Room Type Fixture Type
11/22/2017 B1 Classroom Drinking fountain
11/22/2017 B2 Classroom Sink
11/22/2017 B3 Classroom Sink
11/22/2017 B4 Classroom Sink
11/22/2017 B5 OT/PT Room Sink
11/22/2017 B6 Classroom Sink
11/22/2017 C6 Classroom Sink
11/22/2017 C7 Classroom Sink
11/22/2017 C8 Classroom Sink
11/22/2017 D1 Classroom Sink
11/22/2017 D3 Classroom Sink
11/22/2017 D5 Classroom Sink
11/22/2017 N/A Mechanical Bleed valve
11/22/2017 N/A Workroom Sink
11/22/2017 N/A Girls locker room Drinking fountain
11/22/2017 N/A Boys locker room Drinking fountain
11/22/2017 LRC Office Sink
11/22/2017 E-Conf Conference room Sink

Louise White School

Sample Date Room Room Type Fixture Type
11/22/2017 B0 Classroom Sink
11/22/2017 B1 Classroom Sink
11/22/2017 B2 Classroom Drinking fountain
11/22/2017 B3 Classroom Drinking fountain
11/22/2017 B3 Classroom Sink
11/22/2017 B4 Classroom Sink
11/22/2017 B4 Classroom Drinking fountain
11/22/2017 B5 Classroom Sink
11/22/2017 B5 Classroom Drinking fountain
11/22/2017 B6 Classroom Sink
11/22/2017 C3 Classroom Sink
11/22/2017 C4 Classroom Sink
11/22/2017 C6 Classroom Sink
11/22/2017 C7 Classroom Sink
11/22/2017 C8 Classroom Sink
11/22/2017 D1 Classroom Sink
11/22/2017 D2 Classroom Sink
11/22/2017 D2 Classroom Drinking fountain
11/22/2017 D3 Classroom Sink
11/22/2017 D3 Classroom Drinking fountain
11/22/2017 D4 Classroom Sink
11/22/2017 D4 Classroom Drinking fountain
11/22/2017 D5 Classroom Sink
11/22/2017 D6 Classroom Sink
11/22/2017 D6 Hallway Drinking fountain
11/22/2017 N/A Workroom Sink
11/22/2017 400 Kitchen Sink
11/22/2017 500 Mechanical Bleed valve
11/22/2017 701 Girls Locker room Drinking fountain
11/22/2017 702 Boys locker room Drinking fountain
11/22/2023 400 Kitchen Sink

Grace McWayne School

Sample Date Room Room Type Fixture Type
01/25/2018 167 Bathroom Sink

Hoover-Wood School

No valid results exceeded 5 ppb.

Batavia High School

No valid results exceeded 5 ppb.

Rotolo Middle School

No valid results exceeded 5 ppb.