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No Lead Found At Far NW Side Schools So Far, But Few Test Results Back Yet

 No lead has been found at the only Far Northwest Side school to have its water tested by Chicago Public Schools officials, results show.
No lead has been found at the only Far Northwest Side school to have its water tested by Chicago Public Schools officials, results show.
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DUNNING — No lead has been found at the only Far Northwest Side school that has results back from water tests ordered by Chicago Public Schools officials, results show.

Canty Elementary School, 3740 N. Panama Ave., in Dunning was among the first schools to be tested, officials said.

Five water sources — including the school's kitchen — were tested May 10, and no lead was found, results show.

CPS officials announced Wednesday that testing showed 12 schools have elevated levels of lead in their water — one in every five of schools where test results have come back so far.

The results come as the district "is taking proactive steps to ensure that our children's drinking water is safe across all schools," said spokesman Michael Passman.

CPS Chief Executive Officer Forrest Claypool called for district-wide testing in late May after Tanner Elementary tested positive last month as part of a pilot program that 324 schools built before 1986 with pre-kindergarten programs, including Canty Elementary.

The government is especially concerned with children drinking lead-tainted water, as they're more susceptible to its effects. Amounts of lead that won't hurt adults can hinder mental and physical development in children, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Ten other Far Northwest Side schools have had their water tested, but the results were not available as of Thursday afternoon.

Those schools are:

• Stock Elementary School in Edison Park

• Bridge Elementary School in Dunning

• Beard Elementary School in Norwood Park

• Reinberg Elementary School in Portage Park

• Portage Park Elementary School

• Gray Elementary School in Portage Park

• Oriole Park Elementary School in Norwood Park

• Chicago Academy Elementary School in Dunning

• Farnsworth Elementary School in Jefferson Park

• Dirksen Elementary School in Norwood Park.

Nine more Far Northwest Side schools are set to have their water tested this month, officials said. They are:

• Beaubien Elementary School in Jefferson Park

• Hitch Elementary School in Gladstone Park

• Onahan Elementary School in Norwood Park

• Smyser Elementary School in Portage Park

• Norwood Park Elementary School

• Prussing Elementary School in Jefferson Park

• Dever Elementary School in Norwood Park

• Edison Park Elementary School

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