In August 2016, the Skokie Park District proactively hired Environmental Monitoring and Technologies, Inc. (EMT) to test its facility drinking water fountains for lead content.

Per recent federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines, EMT’s first sample test was a stagnant sample; the second was a sample taken immediately following the flushing of the water line. All samples were taken following strict testing lab protocol.

All of the results contained in the August 24, 2016 report below are well under all required federal, state and local jurisdiction reportable limits. (Exceeding the limits would have required further investigation and or repairs.) Less than 15 parts per billion is the federal EPA standard for drinking water through plumbing materials. Less than 5 parts per billion is the federal Food and Drug Administration standard for bottled water. Every park district facility water fountain registered a level well under 5 parts per billion, and in most cases under the detectable level of 0.120 parts per billion.

The district will test its outdoor park water fountains in the spring of 2017.

Report Key

Client Sample ID = Facility Location and sample number.
Result = detectable Level of Lead, any level of lead detected below 5.00 ppb is 99.9% accurate. In most of the Skokie Park District samples less than .120 ppb was detected.
Reporting Limit = any level of Lead detected at 5.00 ppb or Greater than is 100% accurate.
Qual = U or Analyte included in the analysis, but not detected, or J is estimated Value.
Units = ppb or parts per billion.
Regulator Limit = 15.00 ppb where Environmental Monitoring Technologies is required to report the level.
MDL = Minimum Detectable Level, or 0.120.

View the EMT analytical report for each facility and each drinking fountain here.