Aldermen Want Public Hearing On Lead In Water At CPS
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A group of Chicago aldermen has called for a public hearing to learn more about what's being done to prevent Chicago Public Schools students from drinking water that might have been contaminated with lead.
CPS officials have said 14 schools have been found to have elevated levels of lead, out of 65 schools that have received test results so far. The district has said it will test the water at every school for lead, starting with the oldest buildings.
"Lead shouldn't be in our vocabulary in this day and age. We know how to get rid of it, we know how to test for it, and we know how to keep our kids safe from it," said Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th).
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Taliaferro and other members of the City Council's Progressive Reform Caucus have proposed a resolution calling for CPS officials, experts from the Chicago Department of Water Management, and state and federal Environmental Protection Agencies to testify before the City Council.
"The goal of these hearings is to identify how this happened, what's CPS doing to fix it, and what CPS leadership … what type of measures are they taking to make sure this type of action never happens again," Taliaferro said.
Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) said the city needs a comprehensive plan for dealing with lead that might be in water pipes.
The aldermen plan to introduce their resolution to the City Council on June 22.
City officials have said homeowners who want a test for lead in their water should call 311.
