High levels of lead detected in water at Yellowknife middle school

CBC News

· Posted: May 27, 2025 12:04 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 minutes ago

Levels of pb that are higher than the maximum acceptable concentration have been detected successful the drinking h2o at École William McDonald Middle School successful Yellowknife.

A notice from the schoolhouse committee sent to parents and unit connected Monday said pb levels successful the school's drinking h2o were detected astatine 0.00903 milligrams per litre. Canada's drinking h2o guidelines authorities the maximum acceptable level is 0.005 milligrams per litre. 

As a precaution, each sources of drinking and cooking h2o astatine the schoolhouse volition beryllium unavailable, the announcement from Yellowknife Education District No. 1 (YK1) said.

Bottled h2o and bulk h2o dispensers volition beryllium provided for students and staff. 

The announcement said the h2o astatine the schoolhouse is harmless for manus washing and cleaning. 

In April, N.W.T.-wide investigating took spot for pb successful schoolhouse drinking water. A illustration taken from the h2o fountain by the elevator connected the archetypal level of William McDonald recovered the pb level astatine 0.00903 milligrams. 

That azygous illustration is not conclusive, the announcement said. More investigating needs to beryllium completed to regularisation retired sampling errors. The announcement said the Department of Education, Culture and Employment is moving with the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer to bash so. 

More h2o samples volition beryllium taken successful the coming weeks, including each h2o fountains and acold h2o taps wherever h2o is utilized for drinking and nutrient preparation.