City To Begin Testing For Lead In Drinking Water At Schools, Homes
CHICAGO (CBS) -- City officials were taking precautionary measures to test for lead in drinking water in schools and private homes.
In the wake of the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, lead poisoning is top of mind for many of us. Researchers have said even small amounts of lead as a child can cause subtle brain damage that can trigger learning disabilities and violent behavior.
Under a new program announced by the city, Chicago residents can all 311 to request a free water quality test at their home. Those who request a test should hear back from the city within two business days to schedule an appointment, and results should be posted online within three weeks of the test. If lead levels are more than 15 parts per billion – the EPA's threshold for safe consumption – the city will help homeowners come up with a plan of action.
"Out of an abundance of caution," the Chicago Public Schools also have begun testing for lead in drinking water at 28 schools this week. The schools were chosen based on the age of the buildings, the number of children in prekindergarten programs, and the condition of the pipes. Some of those schools were built in the 1800s, and might still connect to water mains via lead pipes.
CPS officials said there is no indication of lead in school water.
Glenview Public School District 34 recently conducted tests for lead in its schools' drinking water. Supt. Michael Nicholson said a small number of faucets had lead issues, and the problems were being corrected.
"We think generally that the parents understood and are receiving that this is all done in the spirit of being precautionary," he said.
According to a recent study by the University of Illinois at Chicago, at three-quarters of the city's elementary schools, students' average blood lead level was high enough to be considered poisoned.
The city's Department of Water Management already performs 24-hour quality testing and purifies the water it sends out to Chicago and 125 suburbs. An anti-corrosive also is added to the water, which forms a coating on the inside of pipes to prevent lead from leaching into the water.
Here's the list of schools:
Burr
Canty
Coonley
Crown
De Diego
Dett
Ericson
Evers
Hefferan
Jackson
Jamieson
Jungman
Kellman
Kozminski
Lenart
Mays
Neil
Nicholson
Parker
Pritzker
Saucedo
South Shore ES
Stagg
Sumner
Tanner
Washington ES
Webster
Westcott