MLA advocates for proactive response to lead in school water

Monfwi MLA Jane Weyallon Armstrong is pushing for a proactive public health response to elevated levels of lead found in the drinking water of some NWT schools.

“The government’s response has focused on flushing protocols and remediation. These measures address future risks, but they do not address the past,” Weyallon Armstrong said in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday,

“Former students and staff deserve to know what years of exposure could mean for their long-term health.”

Asked by Weyallon Armstrong about the possible health effects of long-term exposure to lead, health minister Lesa Semmler said that anyone who may have concerns about their possible exposure could contact their local health provider to request lead testing.

In an email to Cabin Radio, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Services said that, so far, 56 people have been tested for lead in connection with school drinking water. All test results have come back within safe levels, the spokesperson said.

Weyallon Armstrong suggested that instead of waiting for people to access care on their own, the Department of Health and Social Services could proactively contact those who may have been exposed to lead in school drinking water for an extended period.

In response, Semmler said she would have to have a conversation with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment about that request.

“I don’t know who works in the schools, I don’t know who’s in these schools, that’s why there was public information that went out over the last few months since the very first lead was detected,” said Semmler.

“If [the] public has concerns, if they attend any of these schools that has said there’s exposure and they have concerns, they can reach out to 8-1-1 and they can reach out to the health provider within their community,” she added.

Weyallon Armstrong argued the territorial government has a record of everyone who has attended school in the NWT.

“Will the minister consider providing targeted health screening, follow-up, and appropriate supports for former residents and staff who may have been exposed to elevated lead levels for extended periods of time?” Weyallon Armstrong asked.

Semmler said that would likely include anyone who has spent their entire lives in the NWT and that her department provides this type of health information through public service announcements, not through a targeted outreach.

“It’s up to the public to be able to attend the free health care we have,” said Semmler.

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, Norman Wells, Sachs Harbour, Tsiigehtchic, Ulukhaktok, Whatì and Wrigley – as well as several in Yellowknife.

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.