Schools

Under Illinois law (225 ILCS 320/35.5), school buildings built on or before January 1, 2000 that serve more than 10 children in pre-kindergarten through grade 5 had to test all sources of drinking water for lead and report results to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Schools must communicate directly with parents and guardians when any result is over 5 parts per billion.

IDPH says most schools that submitted results found lead in at least one drinking water source, and it now recommends testing at schools built before January 2014.

Child care

IDPH says state licensing standards require licensed day care homes, day care centers, and group day care homes that serve children under 6 and were built on or before January 1, 2000 to test drinking and cooking water for lead and take action when lead is detected over 2 parts per billion.

Questions to ask your school or provider

  • When was the building's water last tested for lead, and can I see the results?
  • Were any fixtures above 5 ppb (school) or 2 ppb (child care)? What was done?
  • Which taps are used for drinking and for preparing food or formula?

At home in Palos Heights, the same habits help: cold water only, run the tap after water sits, and a certified filter if you're concerned. How to test your own tap.

Quick questions

Which schools must test?

Illinois school buildings built on or before January 1, 2000 that serve more than 10 children in pre-kindergarten through grade 5 had to test all drinking water sources for lead.

When are parents notified?

Schools must notify parents and guardians directly when any result is over 5 parts per billion.

Sources

  1. Lead in Water Testing at Schools and Child Care Facilities — Illinois Department of Public Health
  2. 225 ILCS 320/35.5 — Lead in drinking water prevention — Illinois General Assembly

This guide is general information, not medical or legal advice. Palos Heights Water Filtration is an independent business and is not affiliated with the City of Palos Heights. Product certifications are model-specific and can change; check the current listing before you buy.