Ulukhaktok’s Helen Kalvak School will bring in alternative water after tests of its fixtures recorded some results above Health Canada guidelines for lead content.
It’s the latest in a long line of NWT schools to fail such tests of their drinking water.
The territorial government has promised to cover the cost of alternatives like bottled water but says these results show the tests are working – and steps are being taken to correct the situation.
More: Ten questions (and answers) about lead in NWT school drinking water
More broadly, privately owned childcare centres and many other buildings could face the same lead problem because of old fixtures, though there is no reported lead issue with the municipal water supply in any NWT community.
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Helen Kalvak School had four out of 21 drinking-water sources fail tests carried out last week.
“Effective immediately, affected water fixtures at Helen Kalvak School will be out of service and an alternate drinking water source will be provided,” the GNWT stated on Friday evening.
Signs will be placed on the affected fixtures to stop people using them. The territory did not state whether they will be replaced or whether students and staff will be directed to use the school’s other fixtures, which did not fail tests.
So far, only one school – in Paulatuk – has cleared all tests at the first time of asking without any elevated lead levels being found.
