Water in five schools in the Northwest Territories is now safe to drink following the resolution of issues that had led to heightened levels of lead in sinks and fountains. The office of the chief public health officer in the territory has lifted the health order for Joseph Burr Tyrell School and Paul W Kaeser High School in Fort Smith, École St. Joseph School in Yellowknife, Kaw Tay Whee School in Dettah, and Chief Albert Wright School in Tulita, stating that lead levels in the drinking water at these schools are now within Health Canada guidelines.
After initiating a lead testing protocol for schools in October, the territory has discovered more than 30 schools with elevated lead levels in their drinking water. The Department of Infrastructure announced that they are actively addressing the water fixtures responsible for high lead levels, with remediation efforts currently about 65% complete. Additionally, ongoing measures are being developed to maintain the safety of the water supply, which will involve replacing filters and conducting regular re-testing procedures.