Increased Lead Levels at Valley View Facilities Came from Plumbing, Pipes

ROMEOVILLE, IL — VVSD Facilities Director Mike Lopez issued a clarification Thursday regarding the water quality study report the district made public Wednesday.

"The lead levels identified in the report at three of our facilities are the result of issues with interior plumbing fixtures and/or piping," Lopez said in a district news release. "The municipal water supply is not at issue in either Romeoville or Bolingbrook."

Testing of 334 water sources districtwide showed lead levels were safe by federal standards at Bolingbrook High School, four of the five middle schools, every elementary school, the Administration Center complex, the Transportation Center and the Maintenance Center.

Ten water sources at Romeoville High School, one at Brooks Middle School and three at the VVSD Print Shop exceeded the standard. All 14 of those water sources have been taken off line and will be replaced.

According to Lopez, lead enters drinking water primarily as a result of corrosion of interior plumbing materials containing lead. These materials include lead-based solder used to join copper piping as well as brass and chrome-plated brass faucets. When water stands for several hours in lead pipes or plumbing systems containing lead, the lead sometimes dissolves into the drinking water.

The Environmental Protection Agency has indicated that lead in drinking water is rarely the sole cause of lead poisoning.

Results of the VVSD testing are prominently posted at www.vvsd.org.

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