The NWT government says testing indicates water at the school in Łútsël K’é is safe to drink.
In a Tuesday evening press release, the Department of Infrastructure said test results have confirmed that the water at all fixtures at Łútsël K’é Dene School had lead levels below Canadian drinking water quality guidelines.
The department said no remediation or mitigation measures are required at the school and students and staff can continue using all sinks and water fountains as normal.
The NWT government has been testing the drinking water at schools across the territory since late last year after tests confirmed several water fixtures at some Yellowknife schools had lead levels above the maximum acceptable concentration under Health Canada guidelines.
So far, testing has found elevated lead levels at water fixtures at schools in Aklavik, Behchokǫ̀, Délı̨nę, Dettah, Fort Good Hope, Fort Liard, Fort McPherson, Fort Providence, Fort Resolution, Fort Simpson, Fort Smith, Gamètì, Hay River, Kátł’odeeche First Nation, Sachs Harbour, Tsiigehtchic, Ulukhaktok, Whatì and Wrigley – as well as several in Yellowknife.
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Territorial officials have said the issue is related to fixtures in some older buildings’ plumbing rather than communities’ broader water supplies, which are tested regularly.
The NWT government has said it will provide bottled water to any education body that chooses an alternative drinking water source as a precaution while waiting for testing.
