News and Events

Archdiocese of Chicago Completes Water Testing in All 180 Archdiocesan-Sponsored Elementary and High Schools

All Classroom Buildings Tested for Possible Lead Content

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