Test Results on Some OPRF Water Lines Due Next Week

Test results are expected soon on whether disinfecting the water supply lines in some showers at Oak Park and River Forest High School cleared traces of Legionella bacteria, district officials said Friday.

Families were notified recently that a routine water-quality test detected trace amounts of Legionella bacteria in a showerhead in both the freshman boys’ and freshman girls’ locker rooms.

The boys' showers were closed down and the water lines were disinfected and cleaned over the weekend; they were retested Monday, Oct. 29.

The same process was completed in the girls' showers, even though the amount of bacteria was so low that remediation was not recommended, said district spokesman Karin Sullivan.

"We are just being extra-cautious in doing so," Sullivan said.

Water to the senior boys' shower also was shut off, not because bacteria was found in the supply lines there, but because the same line supplies both boys' showers.

The showers will not reopen until the lines and shower heads are clear; if they're not the process will be completed again, Sullivan said. 

A letter updating the community will be sent out as soon as results are available, she added.

Editor's Note: an earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that the girls' locker room shower was not disinfected due to the low level of bacteria found. According to Karin Sullivan, it has been, and we've corrected the story to indicate that.