The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has received drinking water testing results for Paul William Kaeser (PWK) High School and Joseph Burr Tyrrell School (JBT) in Fort Smith. Testing has confirmed that some water fixtures show lead levels above the maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) set out in the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality. As a result, the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer (OCPHO) has issued a Public Health Order for the school.

Effective immediately, affected water fixtures and water fountains at the two schools will be out of service, and an alternative drinking water source will be provided, where it is not already in place.

The GNWT is taking the following steps to address the issue:

• Identify and implement remediation measures for the affected water fixtures, such as replacing fixtures or installing filters. More detailed information on remediation measures will be added to the webpage as it is confirmed.
• Once all corrective measures are completed, follow-up testing will be carried out and reported to the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer for health risk assessment.
• Use of affected fixtures will only resume once new safety systems are in place, testing confirms the water meets all health standards, and approval is provided by the OCPHO.

Water testing at PWK and JBT schools is part of the GNWT’s commitment to test drinking water in every school in the territory this (school) year. A priority-based protocol guides the order in which schools are tested, based on factors such as facility age, previous water quality information, and the age of students. While the protocol determines sequencing, the commitment remains the same: all schools will be testing using a science-based approach that reflects Health Canada’s guidance and the conditions of the North.

When GNWT staff are already scheduled to travel to a community and testing can be incorporated, the GNWT may proceed at that time even if the school was not identified among the highest priorities.

The GNWT will support any Education Body that chooses to safely provide alternate drinking water as a precaution while testing and remediation continue. The GNWT will reimburse reasonable, cost-effective expenses so that no school hesitates to act out of concern for budget impacts.

The GNWT remains committed to ensuring safe drinking water in all schools and will continue monitoring systems, conducting regular testing, and sharing updates as the territory-wide testing program progresses.

Related Links

• Web Page: Lead Testing in JK-12 School Drinking Water
• Drinking Water Lead Testing in NWT Schools: Procedure for the Design, Collection, Analysis and Testing of Lead in Drinking Water for Northwest Territories Schools
• WSCC Worker’s Report of Injury Form
• Monitoring and Testing of Water in the NWT

For media requests, please contact:
Jacqueline McKinnon
Manager, Public Affairs and Communications
Department of Infrastructure
Government of the Northwest Territories
Jacqueline_mckinnon@gov.nt.ca
867-767-9082 ext. 31166