Chief public health officer Kami Kondola says she recognizes that some parents are anxious after learning that testing has confirmed elevated lead levels in a Yellowknife school's drinking water.
"They want information," she said.
The territorial government has verified dangerous lead levels in the drinking water at William McDonald School, prompting the GNWT to extend its "do not consume" order. A final report is expected soon. For now, Kandola is urging concerned parents or residents to visit the territory's health and social services website and to arrange an appointment.
Specifically, choose the "Yellowknife Primary Care (Regarding Public Health Order)" option.
One sample from William McDonald School measured four times the maximum safe concentration of lead, the GNWT revealed earlier this week. Large volumes of lead over a long time can result in reduced cognition, increased blood pressure and renal dysfunction in adults, as well as adverse neurodevelopmental and behavioural effects in children.
Kandola explained that this stems from a piping issue, not a mining one.
William McDonald School was built in 1986, four years before there was a ban on lead solder.
That said, the city's water service does not use lead-surface pipelines, nor does Ecole Allain St. Cyr, which was built in 1999, said Kandola.
"Any lead that you will see in this situation is coming from the facility itself, either from the plumbing or fixtures," she said.
In the meantime, the territorial government is working on an independent review. Kandola said that review will examine timelines and communications within the GNWT regarding the situation at William McDonald School.
Whether the GNWT will replace any infrastructure is yet unknown.
