By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News

Governor Bruce Rauner is signing legislation to require schools and daycares to test all water sources for lead.

While there are no safe amounts of lead, children can experience brain damage and developmental delays if exposed to lead. Senator Heather Steans sponsored this bill and explains how the law will work.

“Every single school district will have to test every single water source that is potable – kitchens and water fountains. If there is lead found, it’s got to get notified both to the Department of Public Heath and to the parents. It also requires that daycare centers, as part of their licensing test, to make sure there’s no lead in any potable source,” Steans said.

Rauner also said that on top of testing for lead in the water, they will also be addressing the problem of lead paint.