Working to ensure that the drinking water at our schools is safe
The Kane County Health Department will be working closely with the Kane County Regional Office of Education (ROE) in working to ensure the drinking water sources at our schools are safe.
A new law signed by Gov. Bruce Rauner on Jan. 16, 2017, established lead testing requirements and protocols for all water sources used for cooking and drinking within some schools and day care facilitates as well as requirements for water providers to compile a lead materials inventory and provide notification during water distribution work. Schools are required to test all sources used for cooking and drinking in all schools where K thru 5th graders are present that were built before 1/1/2000.
The new law amends a number of existing state laws to enable schools, water suppliers and municipalities to access various funds or impose fees for purposes of complying with the new testing requirements.
The biggest proposed change to the legislation would require schools to pay for their own lead testing, instead of water suppliers. The amendment would allow schools to use money already available in tort immunity and life safety health funds.
The estimated cost of testing for each school ranges from $500 to $5,000. Much larger costs come in if lead is present and mitigation is required.
By working together with the ROE and local school districts, as well as the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Illinois Environmental Protections Agency (IEPA), the partnership is dedicated to ensuring the drinking water in our schools is safe for our children to consume.
Lead Testing FAQs Water Providers Lead Fact Sheet School Fact Sheet Day Care Fact Sheet
