Five of the first six NWT schools to be tested have now reported unsafe levels of lead in their water, with Yellowknife’s Mildred Hall School added to the list on Friday.
The territory’s schools appear never to have been tested for lead in their fixtures and fittings until this year. Concerning initial results from Yellowknife in January ultimately triggered a territory-wide assessment of all schools.
Of the six schools tested to date, only Angik School in Paulatuk has received the all-clear. Yellowknife’s Range Lake North School, NJ Macpherson School and William McDonald School all failed tests, as did Dettah’s Kaw Tay Whee School.
Mildred Hall is the latest school to fail the tests according to results announced by the NWT government.
“Testing has confirmed that some drinking water fixtures show lead levels above the maximum acceptable concentration,” the territory stated in a news release.
Advertisement.
Advertisement.
The NWT’s chief public health officer has issued an order barring the use of the school’s water, the GNWT added. Eight water fixtures and a water fountain are affected, and alternative water sources will be provided.
Last week, education minister Caitlin Cleveland said this series of failed tests was “evidence of our new program working” because the issue is finally being addressed.
However, the minister repeatedly declined to answer whether the tests also showed the GNWT should have been alert to this concern long ago. She said that was a matter for the chief public health officer.
“I rely on the expert advice of our public servants at the end of the day,” Cleveland told Cabin Radio.
Advertisement.
Advertisement.
The lack of testing prior to this year means nobody knows how long lead has been a problem in the water of affected schools, which could also complicate how students and staff understand the possible ramifications for their health.
Some staff who worked for years at affected schools have expressed serious concern about the implications.
Alongside its news release, the GNWT linked to a Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission injury reporting form.
Cleveland said last week the Department of Infrastructure is speeding up tests of remaining schools where possible, though there are still dozens to go.
After this article was first published, Cleveland announced measures to pay for any school to proactively switch water supply territory-wide as testing continues.
A GNWT webpage dedicated to lead testing suggests results will come next from schools in Wekweètì and Fort Good Hope.
So far, the issue is restricted to schools, though it’s not clear if other government-maintained buildings have gone through any form of testing. More broadly, municipal water testing in Yellowknife has not produced evidence of a larger concern.
