Unacceptable Lead Levels Found in Water Fountains at 2 District 211 Schools

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — More water fixtures containing lead were discovered in Highland Park, including outlets at a park district-owned facility and two North Shore School District 112 schools, according to a city alert Monday.

These results are part of the continued citywide water testing that Highland Park has been doing in conjunction with District 112, Township High School District 113, Park District of Highland Park and the Highland Park Public Library since July. Over the past couple weeks, the testing has uncovered unsatisfactory lead levels in two city water fixtures, as well as two water fountains from two D112 schools.

In these latest findings, three water samples from Northwood Junior High School and a sample at Wayne Thomas Elementary School contained lead levels of more than 15 parts per billion, the standard set by the Environmental Protection Agency before action needs to be taken. Those fountains have been shut down while the district awaits more testing to see if the results are because of summer inactivity, according to a letter from District 112 Superintendent Michael Bregy.

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

In that same letter, Bregy revealed the lead levels in the samples from the four contaminated fountains:

• between 15 ppb to 49 ppb for the three fixtures at Northwood Junior High School
• between 23 ppb and 32 ppb for the single fixture at Wayne Thomas Elementary School

Samples from two additional Northwood fountains also were revealed to have lead levels between 6 ppb and 12 ppb, according to the alert. Even though those levels are in the acceptable range, the city said further action would be taken concerning those fixtures.

Of the district's 12 schools, only Edgewood Middle School, and Braeside, Red Oak and Sherwood elementary schools are still waiting for test results, which are provided two weeks after testing.

Along with the school outlets, four samples from two twin drinking fountains at the West Ridge Center, which is owned by the park district, also tested for high lead levels. The exact levels were not revealed in the alert, but the fixtures were shut down.

RELATED: Lead Found in 2 Water Fountains at District 112 Schools

Despite these latest results, as well as earlier findings, Highland Park's overall water production and distribution system meets or exceeds state and federal water safety standards. District 113 water fixtures still need to be tested, but that testing is currently under way.

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: (Image via Pixabay)

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