NEW! Improving Water Quality in Illinois Schools: Lead in Water Testing and Legionella Prevention

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is making the following recommendations for those schools returning to in-person learning following remote operation during the first semester, from the winter or spring breaks, after summer vacation, or any other time a building has been vacated and persons return to the building. As buildings are vacated or unoccupied, drinking water is often left to sit stagnant in the building’s plumbing system. This may cause increased concentrations of metals, such as lead or copper, in the building’s drinking water and may promote the growth of harmful pathogens, such as Legionella, within a building’s plumbing system.
Public Act 099-0922 took effect Jan. 17, 2017, and required all Illinois schools constructed on or before Jan. 1, 2000, to test all “sources of potable water” for lead and submit the results to IDPH by Dec. 31, 2018. This Act also directed IDPH to determine if it is necessary and appropriate, to protect public health, to require schools constructed in whole or in part after Jan. 1, 2000, to conduct testing for lead from sources of potable water.

With this in mind, IDPH is providing a memorandum with recommendations for all schools constructed in whole or in part before Jan. 4, 2014, to sample “all sources of potable water” (225 ILCS 320/35.5) for lead in water and providing other IDPH recommendations to improve water quality at Illinois’ schools. For further questions, please contact IDPH, Plumbing and Water Quality Program, Division of Environmental Health at (217) 524-0791, or visit the IDPH website.

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Hunter will continue her role as Majority Caucus Chair

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) retained her leadership position as Majority Caucus Chair of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus.

“I am happy to continue serving as Majority Caucus Chair for the Democratic Caucus,” Hunter said. “I will continue to work with my colleagues to develop policies that better the lives of our constituents across the state.”

Hunter has represented the 3rd District for nearly 20 years and has passed over 200 bills concerning breast cancer, childhood vaccines, youth employment, environmental issues and education.

Since being named Majority Caucus Chair in January 2018, Hunter has enjoyed the opportunity to get to know her colleagues more as individuals, as well as their families and what their district needs are.

“I remain committed to the issues of public safety, creating economic opportunities, expanding access to health care and eradicating systemic injustice, not only for the constituents I represent, but for the entire population of Illinois,” Hunter said.

Hunter excited to see progress on Black Caucus legislative agenda

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) voted to pass multiple measures last week to advance the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus agenda, hoping to improve racial equality throughout the state of Illinois.

“My colleagues and I have worked tirelessly for the last several months to create a plan that gets to the root of systemic injustice and rectifies the inequities facing our community piece by piece,” Hunter said. “I’m grateful to see that many of our ideas will soon come to fruition, and I’m excited to see our communities benefit.”

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Hunter gives back on MLK Day

CHICAGO – In the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) partnered with Social Change to donate food and PPE at the Greater Harvest Missionary Baptist Church.

“People are still struggling to protect themselves from this virus while awaiting the wide distribution of the vaccine,” Hunter said. “PPE is still needed, and people are still in need of other basic necessities like food. Everyone loves to quote Dr. King, but those who follow in his footsteps are not as common.”

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