After two students found elevated lead levels in the water at Del Van Gorder School in Faro as part of a science fair project and following a review of 2018-19 test results of water fixtures, the Yukon government will be further testing and possibly remediating water fixtures at 30 schools.
“This review identified that there was at least one water source in almost every Yukon school that doesn’t meet the revised federal guidelines. Note that these sources are not necessarily water fountains — they include taps in classrooms, bathrooms and kitchens,” an Education Department spokesperson said by email on May 3.
The government initially made the announcement in a press release on May 1.
“As always, the health and safety of our students and staff is our highest priority. We are working with our partners to ensure that all Yukon schools have access to drinking water that meets the safety standards set by Health Canada,” Education Minister Jeanie McLean said in the release.
“I’d like to commend the students at Del Van Gorder School for their initiative and scientific curiosity. Their testing of their school’s water was not only a learning opportunity but also a critical reminder of the importance of ongoing vigilance in water safety.”
Re-testing will be done at affected schools over the next two to three months to check for compliance with national water quality standards. Any fixtures that don’t meet the standards will be remediated, with the goal to complete all work before the start of the 2024-25 school year, per the release.
According to the release, parents and guardians have been notified of the work.
Beginning this week, drinking water fixtures that aren’t compliant with federal guidelines will be deactivated. “The Department of Education will ensure all schools have continued access to safe drinking water,” reads the release.
The additional testing and possible remediation are necessary because of changes to the Canadian drinking water quality guidelines.
Health Canada dropped the maximum allowable concentration for lead from 0.020 milligrams per litre to 0.005 milligrams per litre.
“In 2018, as part of a proactive health and safety initiative, the Government of Yukon tested water fixtures in all schools built before 1990, which may contain plumbing materials utilizing lead,” reads the release.
“This testing, which extended in 2019 to all remaining schools, adhered to the standards at that time, and all fixtures with lead levels that exceeded the federal guidelines were replaced.”
Lead pipes, faucets and plumbing fixtures are the main sources of lead in drinking water, as noted in the release.
“Pipes used to transport water from the source could harbour lead,” the release notes.
“ Additionally, plumbing fixtures, welding solder and pipe fittings manufactured before 1986 may also be sources of lead.”
Dr. Sudit Ranade, the Yukon’s chief medical officer of health, and the environmental health unit reviewed and approved of the water testing and remediation plan.
“I’d like to assure all Yukon families that there is no short-term risk to health associated with water fixtures tested with lead levels slightly above the national standards,” Ranade said in the release.
“These standards are based on exposure to lead over a lifetime. Considering that children drink water from many sources, consuming water from these specific fixtures would not be enough to significantly affect their health or development.”
Contact Dana Hatherly at dana.hatherly@yukon-news.com