Following the discovery of lead in the water at some Chicago Public Schools, the northern suburb of Waukegan will pay a private company to do extensive lead tests at its public school buildings.

For years the school district relied on the city’s monthly tests of school drinking fountains to make sure the water was safe for children to drink, said Waukegan Associate Superintendent William Newby.

But he says the recent discovery of elevated lead levels at 23 Chicago public elementary schools motivated the district to purchase more extensive testing.

“We are hoping we don’t have a problem, but we know that when this survey is done we will know for sure,” said Newby. “And I am not willing to take that kind of a risk. Especially in seeing what just happened in Chicago.”

Currently, the Waukegan School District plans to pay a company called Hygieneering about $21,000 to do the tests, Newby said.

The tests will be carried out sometime before the beginning of next school year.