The NWT government says testing confirms water at some fixtures at Echo Dene School and Inualthuyak School show lead levels above Canadian drinking water quality guidelines.
In a Monday news release, the Department of Infrastructure said the territory’s chief public health officer has issued a public health order for the schools in Fort Liard and Sachs Harbour.
The department said all affected water fixtures at the schools are now out of service and it is working to identify and implement remediation measures such as replacing the affected fixtures or installing filters.
The department said use of the affected fixtures would only resume once new safety systems are in place and follow-up testing confirms they meet drinking water standards.
In its Monday update, the department said test results found all water fixtures at K’alemi Dene School in Ndılǫ, Charles Yohin School in Nahanni Butte and Mangilaluk School in Tuktoyaktuk, had lead levels below the maximum acceptable concentration under Health Canada guidelines.
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The NWT government launched a lead testing protocol for schools across the territory late last year after testing of some Yellowknife schools confirmed several water fixtures had lead levels above the maximum acceptable concentration.
So far, testing has confirmed elevated lead levels at some schools in Aklavik, Behchokǫ̀ Dettah, Fort Good Hope, Fort Resolution, Fort Simpson, Fort Smith, Kátł’odeeche First Nation, Tsiigehtchic, Ulukhaktok and Yellowknife.
Separately, the Town of Fort Smith and City of Yellowknife have found elevated lead levels at some municipal buildings.
