Under a new state law, School District 45 and all other school districts across the state were required to have the water at their schools tested for lead by the end of 2017. The testing was conducted on the water supply samples from each of our schools.

A total of 388 samples were taken districtwide. As required by Illinois Plumbing Licensing Law (225 ILCS 320/35.5), the water used at all schools for drinking and cooking was tested for lead. This included potable water taps, faucets, drinking fountains, and hand-washing sinks in the classrooms. Of all the locations tested, action was taken at eight locations with results in excess of the limits established by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). These locations were shut down, removed from service, mitigated and resampled. In early 2018, School District 45 received lab results for the resampling indicating that all mitigated locations met the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) water standards for drinking and cooking.

The following locations were mitigated and resampled:

• Ardmore School – Room 107/Kindergarten Hand Wash Sink
• Jackson Middle School – Band Room Drinking Fountain
• Jefferson Middle School – Aux Gym Drinking Fountain (right)
• North School – Room 13/Kindergarten Hand Wash Sink
• North School – Room 14/Kindergarten Hand Wash Sink
• North School – Hall by Room 30/Drinking Fountain (left)
• Schafer School – Room 20/Kindergarten Hand Wash Sink
• Schafer School – Room 22/Kindergarten Hand Wash Sink

The Water Sampling Summary for each school is available by clicking on the following links:

• Ardmore
• Jackson
• Jefferson
• North
• Schafer
• Stevenson
• Westmore
• York Center

More information about drinking water testing is available on the Illinois Department of Health website.