June 10, 2016
Dear CPS family,
In light of national events that have brought increased attention to the issue of water
quality, the City of Chicago announced several additional precautionary measures that will
be added to the City’s water testing protocol, continuing the City’s track record of complying
with current state and federal regulations as well as exceeding industry standards.
As part of this announcement, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) began testing the water for
levels of lead from all schools across the district. Our top priority is the health and safety of
our students and staff, and this testing was initiated out of an abundance of caution to
ensure the water in our schools is safe. Schools are being tested based on a priority criteria
that includes the age of the school, age of the students (with priority given to schools with
pre-K programs), presence of a kitchen (where meals are prepared) and presence of pipes
that could need repairs or replacement.
The results of all the schools are coming in on a rolling basis, and the majority have had
levels under the EPA’s action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb). We wanted to let you know
that no lead was found above the action level in your child’s school. The full results of your
school’s water samples can be found online at cps.edu/leadtesting.
Federal guidance indicates that children under the age of six are at the highest risk for
harmful lead exposure, and they can be exposed to lead from a variety of sources, including
paint, soil and even some consumer products. If you are concerned about your child’s
possible lead exposure risks, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) recommends
going to your pediatrician for testing. Additionally, CDPH’s lead hotline can address any
health related questions you may have or help you in deciding whether to have your child
tested; for questions or more information, please call 312-747-5323. For additional
information about lead and children, visit www.cdc.gov/lead.
The safety of your children is our highest priority, and we are doing everything in our
power to address this situation in a quick and thorough manner. We will continue to keep
you and your family informed throughout this process.
Sincerely,
Forrest Claypool Dr. Julie Morita
CEO, Chicago Public Schools Commissioner, Chicago Department of Public Health
