Archdiocese of Chicago Completes Water Testing in All 180 Archdiocesan-Sponsored Elementary and High Schools
Chicago, IL (October 10, 2016) – The Archdiocese of Chicago announced today it has completed voluntary water testing for possible lead content in all 180 Archdiocesan-sponsored schools. The Archdiocese engaged an environmental consulting firm to create a water testing protocol for the schools in accordance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommendations.
Of the 180 Archdiocesan-sponsored schools tested, nearly 70 percent of the schools required no action, meaning all water outlets tested were below the EPA’s action level for lead, which is 15 parts per billion (ppb). In schools that required some level of action, meaning a water outlet (or outlets) tested above the EPA’s action level for lead, the issues found were limited to one to four water outlet(s) in the schools. The Archdiocese did not identify any school-wide or system water quality issues. The complete testing results reports for each school were shared with school leadership, families, faculty and staff. See appendix for additional information.
“The safety and well-being of our students is our most important priority, so it was important that the Archdiocese complete this testing” said Dr. Jim Rigg, Superintendent of Catholic Schools. “We are glad to see a high majority of or schools did not have any water issues identified. For the few where issues were detected, those outlets have been removed from service and we are diligently working to address the issues as quickly as possible.”
This voluntary initiative emerged from lead issues facing other U.S. school systems and communities. Throughout July, August and September, testing consultants visited the 180 Archdiocesan-sponsored schools and collected water samples from the drinking outlets in the schools. The water samples were sent to an independent laboratory for analysis. If a water outlet tested above the EPA’s action level for lead, the Archdiocese immediately worked with the schools to put the affected outlet out of service until the issue is addressed. Remediation plans will vary from installing a filtration system to replacing the water outlet. All of the affected water outlets will be re-tested following the remediation to ensure the issues have been resolved.
Following recommended best practices, the Archdiocese is also working with its schools to implement a standard flushing program for all designated drinking outlets. A flushing program is one of the best ways to help ensure clean and safe water sources. Additionally, the Archdiocese has recommended its schools label all fixtures in the school buildings that are not designated as drinking outlets (i.e. janitorial-type and bathroom sinks) with appropriate signage.
Appendix
School Name | City | Water Results |
---|---|---|
Academy of St. Benedict the African | Chicago | No action required |
St. Agnes School | Chicago Heights | Two water outlets above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. Agnes of Bohemia School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Ailbe School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Albert the Great School | Burbank | No action required |
St. Alexander School | Palos Heights | No action required |
Alphonsus Academy and Center for the Arts | Chicago | One water outlet above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. Alphonsus Liguori School | Prospect Heights | One water outlet above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. Alphonsus/St. Patrick School | Lemont | One water outlet above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. Anastasia School | Waukegan | One water outlet above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. Andrew School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Angela School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Ann School | Chicago | One water outlet above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. Ann School | Lansing | No action required |
St. Anne School | Barrington | No action required |
Annunciata School | Chicago | No action required |
Ascension School | Oak Park | No action required |
St. Athanasius School | Evanston | One water outlet above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
Augustus Tolton Catholic Academy | Chicago | No action required |
St. Barbara School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Barnabas School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Bartholomew School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Bede School | Ingleside | No action required |
St. Bede the Venerable School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Benedict Preparatory School (Elementary and Secondary) | Chicago | Three water outlets above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. Benedict School | Blue Island | No action required |
Bridgeport Catholic Academy | Chicago | One water outlet above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. Bruno School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Cajetan School | Chicago | No action required |
Cardinal Bernardin Early Childhood Center | Chicago | No action required |
Cardinal Joseph Bernardin Elementary School | Orland Hills | No action required |
St. Catherine of Alexandria School | Oak Lawn | One water outlet above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. Catherine Laboure School | Glenview | No action required |
St. Catherine of Siena/St. Lucy School | Oak Park | One water outlet above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
Catholic Consortium of Lake County: St. Mary of the Annunciation School Transfiguration School and Frassati Catholic Academy | Mundelein Wauconda | Two water outlets above EPA action level of 15 ppb Two water outlets above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. Celestine School | Elmwood Park | No action required |
Children of Peace School and Holy Trinity School for the Deaf | Chicago | No action required |
Christ Our Savior School | South Holland | One water outlet above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
Christ the King School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Christina School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Christopher School | Midlothian | Two water outlets above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. Clement School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Cletus School | La Grange | No action required |
St. Colette School | Rolling Meadows | One water outlet above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. Constance School | Chicago | One water outlet above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. Cyprian School | River Grove | Two water outlets above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
SS. Cyril & Methodius School | Lemont | Two water outlets above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. Damian School | Oak Forest | One water outlet above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. Daniel the Prophet School | Chicago | No action required |
Divine Infant Jesus School | Westchester | No action required |
Divine Providence School | Westchester | No action required |
St. Edward School | Chicago | One water outlet above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. Emily School | Mt. Prospect | No action required |
Epiphany School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Ethelreda School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Eugene School | Chicago | No action required |
SS. Faith, Hope & Charity School | Winnetka | No action required |
St. Ferdinand School | Chicago | One water outlet above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. Frances of Rome School | Cicero | No action required |
St. Francis Borgia School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Francis de Sales High School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Francis De Sales School | Lake Zurich | One water outlet above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. Francis Xavier School | La Grange | No action required |
St. Francis Xavier School | Wilmette | No action required |
St. Gabriel School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Gall School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Genevieve School | Chicago | No action required |
St. George School | Tinley Park | No action required |
St. Gerald School | Oak Lawn | No action required |
St. Germaine School | Oak Lawn | Two water outlets above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. Gilbert School | Grayslake | Two water outlets above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. Giles School | Oak Park | No action required |
St. Helen School | Chicago | One water outlet above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. Hilary School | Chicago | No action required |
Holy Angels School | Chicago | Three water outlets above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
Holy Cross School | Deerfield | One water outlet above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
Holy Family Catholic Academy | Inverness | No action required |
St. Hubert School | Hoffman Estates | No action required |
Immaculate Conception St. Joseph School (two campuses) | Chicago | No action required |
Immaculate Conception School (Talcott) | Chicago | Two water outlets above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
Immaculate Conception School (Exchange) | Chicago | No action required |
Incarnation School | Palos Heights | Two water outlets above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
Infant Jesus of Prague School | Flossmoor | No action required |
St. James School | Arlington Heights | No action required |
St. Jane De Chantal School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Jerome School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Joan of Arc School | Evanston | No action required |
St. John de la Salle Catholic Academy | Chicago | No action required |
St. John Vianney School | Northlake | One water outlet above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. John Berchmans School | Chicago | No action required |
St. John Brebeuf School | Niles | No action required |
St. John of the Cross School | Western Springs | Two water outlets above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. John the Evangelist School | Streamwood | No action required |
St. John Fisher School | Chicago | One water outlet above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. Josaphat School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Joseph School | Homewood | One water outlet above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. Joseph School | Libertyville | No action required |
St. Joseph School | Round Lake | Four water outlets above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. Joseph School | Summit | No action required |
St. Joseph School | Wilmette | No action required |
St. Juliana School | Chicago | No action required |
Leo Catholic High School | Chicago | One water outlet above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. Leonard School | Berwyn | One water outlet above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. Linus School | Oak Lawn | Two water outlets above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. Louis De Montfort School | Oak Lawn | No action required |
St. Louise De Marillac School | La Grange Park | No action required |
St. Luke School | River Forest | Two water outlets above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. Malachy School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Margaret of Scotland School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Maria Goretti School | Schiller Park | No action required |
Santa Lucia School | Chicago | No action required |
Old St. Mary's School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Mary School | Buffalo Grove | One water outlet above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
School of St. Mary | Lake Forest | Two water outlets above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. Mary School | Riverside | No action required |
St. Mary of the Angels School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Mary of the Lake School | Chicago | No action required |
Mary, Seat of Wisdom School | Park Ridge | Three water outlets above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. Mary Star of the Sea School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Mary of the Woods School | Chicago | No action required |
Maternity BVM School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Matthias School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Michael School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Michael School | Orland Park | No action required |
St. Monica Academy | Chicago | No action required |
Most Blessed Trinity Academy | Waukegan | No action required |
Most Holy Redeemer School | Evergreen Park | One water outlet above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. Nicholas of Tolentine School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Norbert School | Northbrook | One water outlet above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
Northside Catholic Academy (two campuses) | Chicago | No action required |
St. Odilo School | Berwyn | No action required |
Our Lady of Charity School | Cicero | No action required |
Our Lady of Grace School | Chicago | No action required |
Our Lady of Guadalupe School | Chicago | No action required |
Our Lady of Humility School | Beach Park | No action required |
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy | Chicago | No action required |
Our Lady of Perpetual Help School | Glenview | One water outlet above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
Our Lady of Tepeyac School (Elementary) | Chicago | No action required |
Our Lady of Tepeyac High School | Chicago | No action required |
Our Lady of the Ridge School | Chicago Ridge | No action required |
Our Lady of the Snows School | Chicago | No action required |
Our Lady of the Wayside School | Arlington Heights | One water outlet above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. Patricia School | Hickory Hills | No action required |
St. Patrick School | Wadsworth | No action required |
St. Paul of the Cross School | Park Ridge | No action required |
St. Philip Neri School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Pius V School | Chicago | No action required |
Pope Francis Global Academy (North and South Campus) | Chicago | One water outlet above EPA action level of 15 ppb (North Campus) |
Pope John XXIII School | Evanston | No action required |
Pope John Paul II Catholic School | Chicago | One water outlet above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
Prince of Peace School | Lake Villa | One water outlet above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. Procopius School | Chicago | No action required |
Queen of All Saints School | Chicago | One water outlet above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
Queen of Angels School | Chicago | No action required |
Queen of Martyrs School | Evergreen Park | No action required |
Queen of the Rosary School | Elk Grove Village | Four water outlets above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
Queen of the Universe School | Chicago | One water outlet above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. Raymond School | Mount Prospect | No action required |
St. Richard School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Robert Bellarmine School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Sabina Academy | Chicago | No action required |
Sacred Heart School (96th Street) | Chicago | No action required |
Sacred Heart School | Winnetka | No action required |
Sacred Heart School | Melrose Park | No action required |
St. Stanislaus Kostka School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Sylvester School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Symphorosa School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Thecla School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Theresa School | Palatine | One water outlet above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. Therese School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Thomas the Apostle School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Thomas of Canterbury School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Thomas of Villanova School | Palatine | One water outlet above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. Viator School | Chicago | One water outlet above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. Vincent Ferrer School | River Forest | No action required |
Visitation School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Walter School | Chicago | One water outlet above EPA action level of 15 ppb |
St. William School | Chicago | No action required |
St. Zachary School | Des Plaines | One water outlet above EPA action level of 15 ppb |