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GNWT tests for more lead in Northern schools
While more schools have been found with high lead levels in their waters, other schools were able to stay under the threshold for acceptable levels
More updates have come in from various schools in the GNWT’s ongoing mission to test for lead in water systems.
New testing conducted at Echo Dene School in Acho Dene Koe and Inualthuyak School in Sachs Harbour has found a handful of water fixtures contaminated with lead levels above the maximum acceptable concentration. Each school is now the subject of a Public Health Order issued by the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer.
As with the other schools that have been tested, the affected water fixtures will be taken out of service, and external water will be provided to the students until the issues have been resolved and another round of testing has been conducted.
Elsewhere, testing done at K’alemi Dene School in Ndılǫ, Charles Yohin School in Nahanni Butte, and Mangilaluk School in Tuktoyaktuk has found lead levels under the maximum acceptable concentration, and so no immediate remediation measures are required. For now, each school can continue to use their water fixtures normally, though it is noted that Mangilaluk School is currently undergoing renovations, and will be tested again once they are complete.
The GNWT is providing alternative water sources to the schools as requested, even for schools that have not yet been tested. Water testing is being carried out on a priority-based protocol based on a number of factors, such as the age of the building, age of the students, and information collected from previous water quality tests.
