The NWT government says testing has confirmed some water fixtures at Mackenzie Mountain School show lead levels above Canadian health guidelines.
In a Tuesday evening press release, the territory said the Chief Public Health Officer had issued a public health order for the school in Norman Wells.
It said affected water fixtures and fountains at the school will be out of service or flushed as required and an alternative drinking water source will be provided.
The NWT government said it is working to identify and implement remediation measures and use of the affected fixtures will only resume once testing has confirmed they meet health standards for drinking water.
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.
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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.
