Highland Park Turns Off 3 City-Owned Water Fixtures Over Lead Levels

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — Two bathroom sinks and a drinking fountain located on city-owned property were shut down after voluntary testing found lead in the water they dispensed, according to a Highland Park press release.

The city—along with Park District of Highland Park, the Highland Park Public Library, North Shore School District 112 and Township High School District 113—teamed up to test 61 water fixtures in July, and overall, Highland Park's water production and distribution system meets or exceeds state and federal water safety standards.

Those three outlets that registered unacceptable levels will remain turned off until repairs are made to eliminate the lead from the fixtures, the release stated.

“City staff turned off and covered the affected water fixtures as soon as confirmation was received of lead presence in those fixtures at the Library and Karger [Recreation] Center,” City Manager Ghida Neukirch stated in the release. “The City took immediate steps to secure the sites and is in the process of replacing the impacted plumbing and fixtures. The lead testing results are isolated to specific fixtures that were tested and are not reflective of the City’s water production or distribution system.”

The affected fixtures include:

• a bathroom sink not open to the public at the library, 494 Laurel Ave., that had a lead concentration of 97 parts per billion
• an upstairs men's restroom sink at the Karger Center, 1850 Green Bay Road, that had a lead concentration of 21 parts per billion
• a drinking fountain in a lower level hallway at the Karger Center that had a lead concentration of 7 parts per billion

The lead level set by the Environmental Protection Agency before action needs to be taken is 15 parts per billion. Although the drinking fountain was well within the EPA's acceptable level, city officials still decided to replace the fixture.

“Public safety is our fundamental responsibility," Mayor Nancy Rotering stated in the release. "Lead exposure is a serious threat to human health, and children and seniors are particularly at risk. For these reasons, I requested that all public facilities be tested. This proactive step and extra precaution ensures our community’s safety."

Highland Park is not required to do lead testing of water fixtures in public facilities, and the city volunteered staff resources to collect water samples, which were then certified lab tested.

Go to the lead information page on the city's website for more information about the testing. Residents with questions also can contact the following Highland Park officials:

• City Manager Ghida Neukirch: gneukirch@cityhpil.com; 847-926-1000
• Water Plant Superintendent Don Jensen: djensen@cityhpil.com; 847-433-4355

PHOTO: (Shutterstock)

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