Drinking Water Requirements
in Schools and Childcare Facilities
As of January 16, 2017, SB 0550 was signed by
Governor Bruce Rauner which requires all public
and private schools occupied by student in grades
preschool through fifth grade to test for lead in
water sources used for drinking and cooking.
Zion Elementary School District 6 is diligent about ensuring our facilities are safe and healthy for students to learn. Part of ensuring a healthy learning environment is making sure our water sources are clean and safe for consumption. The District tested the water at all of our schools, including Zion Central Middle School.
In March 2017, Zion District #6 performed a comprehensive sampling for lead from our potable water sources. The source of potable water is defined as any water that may be ingested by children or used for food preparation including taps, faucets, drinking fountains and wash basins in a classroom, but excludes bathroom sinks and wash basins used by janitorial staff.
In accordance with this new legislation, Zion District #6
has engaged with Aires Consulting to coordinate the sampling/testing at each school within the district. Schools are required to notify parents and staff of lead level results above 5 ppb. Testing results identified lead levels exceeding 5 parts per billion (ppb). In each location, any water fixture showing lead levels higher than the EPA threshold recommendation of
20 ppb have been immediately taken out of service until the needed remediation has taken place.
Zion Elementary District 6 has quickly begun remediating the situation through the flushing of pipes and replacement of fixtures. The areas of concern have been turned off as potential drinking sources for students until remediation is complete. Bottled water has been provided daily for schools in which drinking water fixtures have been heavily impacted. Please select the Water Testing Results link which indicates locations that tested above Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and EPA guidelines in your child’s school.
As the safety and security of our students and staff is our number one priority, though EPA guidelines require remediation for all fixture with lead levels above 20 ppb, Zion Elementary District 6 is remediating all fixtures yielding a lead level above 5 ppb. Once the work is complete, water samples will be drawn to re-test these locations to ensure they meet guidelines for appropriate lead levels. Zion Elementary District #6 Action Plan has been posted for your review.