Lead found in water at 14 CPS schools

Two more Chicago Public Schools have tested positive for lead in their drinking water, bringing the total so far to 14.

Schools CEO Forrest Claypool made that announcement in a press conference Thursday at Wells Community Academy High School.

Claypool said the district has identified 324 schools as a testing priority, based on the age of the building, the age of the children who use it and whether the school has a cooking kitchen or not. All will be tested by the end of the school year, he said, and 169 schools have been tested so far.

In cases where lead is found, the affected fountains and sinks have been shut off and marked with signs that lead was present. Only the affected fixtures have been turned off. Other fountains are still on and being used, according to CPS.

On Wednesday, CPS had announced that a dozen city schools had at least one source of drinking water with dangerous levels of lead, according to data from testing that began this spring.

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