- Testing Yukon schools
- 2018-19 results and testing procedures
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Testing Yukon schools
In 2018 and 2019, we tested the water in all our schools for lead and either replaced or shut off fixtures that didn’t meet Health Canada’s Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality.
March 8, 2019, Health Canada revised the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality, reducing the maximum allowable concentration (MAC) of lead in drinking water, from 0.01 mg/L (set in 1992) to 0.005 mg/L. An audit of the previous testing results against the new Canadian Drinking Water Guideline found that some fixtures did not meet the new guideline.
To ensure the safety of our students and staff, for the start of the 2024-25 school year we have ensured that every school in Yukon has at least one drinking water fountain that meets the Canadian guidelines for lead content. For larger schools, there is at least one for every 100 students.
These water sources are clearly marked with signage to make them easy to identify as safe for drinking.
Starting on October 7, work began to collect water samples from every water source in every school in the Yukon. Education will work in collaboration with Environmental Health and Highways and Public Works to develop a mitigation plan based on these results.
We will update this page with new test results as soon as they are available.
Find test results from 2018 and 2019.
What do I need to know about lead in Yukon schools
The Chief Medical Officer of Health advises that there is no short-term risk to health associated with water fixtures with lead levels slightly above the national standards. These standards are based on exposure to lead over a lifetime.
Children drink water from many sources. Drinking water from these fixtures would not be enough to significantly affect their health or development.
What is lead?
Lead is a heavy metal that occurs naturally in low levels in the environment. Everyone is exposed to trace amounts of lead through:
- air;
- soil;
- household dust;
- food;
- drinking water; and
- various consumer products.
Can I remove lead from my drinking water?
If you’re concerned about lead levels in your drinking water, there are ways to remove it permanently. Check out the links below from Health Canada to learn more.
You can reduce your exposure in the meantime. Health Canada recommends using only cold tap water for:
- drinking;
- cooking; and
- preparing baby formula.
Hot water increases the release of lead and other metals from plumbing.
You can also let your tap run for about 1 minute to flush out your plumbing after water has been sitting in the pipes for a few hours. You can also clear the pipes by:
- flushing the toilet;
- taking a shower; or
- starting a load of laundry.
Learn more with Health Canada:- Lead in drinking water information
- General lead exposure information
- Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines
- Health Canada sampling protocols for non-residential buildings (including schools)
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2018-19 results and testing procedures
2018-19 water fixture test results and mitigation for Yukon schools
This document shows the number of fixtures identified for replacement or repair and the mitigation work that has taken place.
How we tested for lead
We tested the water to identify which water fixtures might be leaching lead. This is a pass or fail test. It does not represent the average concentration of lead in the drinking water. Lead levels drop when water is flushed. Fixtures that test above the 20 micrograms per litre (ug/L) level did not pass the test.
The testing procedure was as follows:
- We flushed water at every water fixture.
- The water sat stagnant in the water system for 16 to 24 hours to allow for the largest amount of lead leaching.
- We took a 250 millilitres standing sample from every water fixture.
- We took a 2nd 250 millilitres flushed sample from some water fixtures following a 30-second flush.
- We also took a main water sample from some schools.
- We sent the water samples to Caro Analytical Services in Richmond, BC, for testing.
- Caro Analytical Services sent the results back to the Department of Education for action.
Measurement units
We measure the results in micrograms per litre (ug/L). We follow Health Canada guidelines and replace any water fixtures that test above 20 ug/L.
The “RL Units” seen next to the result is the reporting limit. This limit is set at 0.20 ug/L. Any results below this number are reported as “<0.20”. Measurements for lead are written as either:
- microgram per litre (ug/L); or
- milligrams per litre (mg/L).
Fixture labels
After testing, we label each water fixture. The labels you may see include:
- BS or BF: bathroom sink or bathroom fixture
- CS or CF: classroom sink or classroom fixture
- CSF: classroom sink with fountain
- KS or KF: kitchen sink or kitchen fixture
- S: sink
- DF: drinking fountain
- HF: hall fountain
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