MiƟgaƟon Strategies - for Lead Found in School Drinking Water - Guidance Document for MiƟgaƟng Lead in Schools - New Guidance

Oct 10, 2026

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Guidance document describing mitigation of lead hazards found in school drinking water under Illinois requirements. It explains that even when mitigation is not explicitly mandated, schools are urged to apply the included strategies for plumbing fixtures with any detected lead. It recommends establishing a Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP) including team selection, understanding facility layout and schedules, and developing a plan focused on flushing to keep water fresh while minimizing wasted water.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time15 min

AccessFree to download

Water Quality Management Plan

Steps to an Effective Water Quality Management Plan

Step 1 Select Your Team

Step 2 Understand Your Facility Layout

Step 3 Understand Your Facility Schedule

Step 4 Develop Your Plan

Mechanical Flushing

Manual Flushing

MiƟgaƟon Strategies for Lead Found in School Drinking Water Guidance Document for MiƟgaƟng Lead in Schools New Guidance Pursuant to the Illinois Plumbing Licensing Law (225 ICLS 320/35.5), the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is required to provide guidance to schools concerning miƟgaƟon of hazards discovered by tesƟng for lead in water. While SecƟon 35.5 does not speciﬁcally require miƟgaƟon, IDPH is urging themiƟgaƟon strategies and requirements contained in this guidance document be followed for all plumbing ﬁxtures idenƟﬁed with any level of lead. MiƟgaƟon should conƟnue unƟl subsequent tesƟng indicates no lead is present in water. MiƟgaƟon strategies depend on many variables and schools may need to implement various and mulƟple steps to miƟgate lead‐in‐water hazards. This guidance provides the most common miƟgaƟons strategies, but is not intended to be all inclusive. WQMP Water Quality Management Plan Steps to an EﬀecƟve Water Quality Management Plan Regardless of lead or any other potenƟal plumbing issues within your facility, developing an eﬀecƟve Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP) is essenƟal to ensuring that safe, potable drinking water is maintained at all Ɵmes. In many cases, the internal plumbing system in schools and other large faciliƟes is extensive, oŌen containing hundreds, if not thousands of feet of pipe. If leŌ unused for extended periods of Ɵme (2-3 days), the water in this pipe can become stagnant and develop internal water quality issues such as high lead concentraƟons and harmful bacterial growth. An eﬀecƟve WQMP can help miƟgate the potenƟal for these negaƟve water quality issues. The steps outlined in this secƟon are not intended to be all inclusive, since every facility and administraƟon is diﬀerent, each with their own set of individual circumstances. However, it should help you understand the general concepts of a WQMP and how you can develop your unique team to address potenƟal water quality condiƟons within your facility. Step 1 Select Your Team Your team could include: 􀁸 Administrators and Faculty 􀁸 FaciliƟes and Maintenance Staﬀ 􀁸 Parents 􀁸 Students 􀁸 Water Suppliers These individuals will be key to implemenƟng whatever program you develop. Step 2 Understand Your Facility Layout 􀁸 Obtain building plans. 􀁸 Know where your drinking fountains and food service water ﬁxtures are located. 􀁸 In general terms, familiarize yourself with the layout of your plumbing system. Look for long pipe runs with ﬁxtures that may be used infrequently, even when the building is occupied. Step 3 Understand Your Facility Schedule Although this step will be intuiƟve for facility staﬀ, you should familiarize your team with the schedule of the facility. QuesƟons to ask include: 􀁸 When is the facility closed for more than just one day? 􀁸 Weekends, holidays, extended spring or summer break periods. 􀁸 Are there any parƟcular areas of the building that are unused even when the rest of the facility is operaƟonal? These may include: 􀁸 Gymnasiums 􀁸 Churches or rectories 􀁸 Childcare areas 􀁸 ParƟcular classroom areas or wings of the building. Step 4 Develop Your Plan The principal goal of your plan will be to ﬂush an adequate amount of water through your plumbing system in order to maintain fresh (safe) drinking water at all Ɵmes, in all areas of your facility. In addiƟon, you want to do this without unnecessarily wasƟng water. Flushing is the easiest method whereby fresh water may be delivered from the water main. Because lead concentraƟons increase the longer the water isin contact with pipes or plumbing ﬁxtures containing lead, reducing the water age (how long watersits in the pipe) will reduce the levels of lead in water. Note: IDPH suggests the following program guide‐ lines be considered as minimum steps: 1. Locate the ﬁxtures farthest from the entry point of the water service to the building and ﬂush them for 10 minutes each morni

FAQs

What is the purpose of this guidance for schools regarding lead in drinking water?

It provides recommended mitigation strategies for lead hazards identified through water testing, urging schools to follow the guidance for all plumbing fixtures found to have any level of lead.

Why is a Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP) important for schools?

Because stagnant water in extensive internal plumbing systems can develop internal water quality problems, including higher lead concentrations and harmful bacterial growth.

How does flushing help reduce lead levels in school water?

Flushing delivers fresh water from the water main. Since lead concentrations increase the longer water contacts pipes or fixtures containing lead, reducing water age lowers lead levels.

Oct 10, 2026

Upload by jayni