Advisory for YELLOWKNIFE, Northwest Territories

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YELLOWKNIFE

Type: Do Not Consume  -  Active

Issued: 5/26/2025

Details:

(DNC) May 26 Tests show elevated levels of lead in drinking water at two Yellowknife schools. Results indicating the elevated levels were first received in January, results from a second set of samples came back in early April, once again showing elevated lead levels. Parents and the Education Minister were only notified on May 26. Rita Mueller, president of the Northwest Territories Teachers Association (NWTTA), said they did not receive any formal communication, they heard about the lead levels through the media.

Lead levels in William McDonald Schools drinking water were detected at 0.00903 mg/L, while Range Lake Schools levels were 0.025 mg/L. Canadas drinking water guidelines state the maximum acceptable level is 0.005 mg/L. Pipes and water distribution systems, within the affected schools, are suspected to be the source of the contamination.