We tested the water in Yukon schools:
- August to December 2024; and
- in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Work to test school water in 2024
In August 2024, we made sure every school had an average of 1 source of drinking water for every 10 students. The Canadian National Building Code requires 1 drinking water source per 100 students.
During October to December 2024, potable water sources were tested in all Yukon schools and education programs. A plan was developed to immediately manage fixtures that tested above Health Canada’s Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality for lead. The plan involves:
- continuous mitigation measures; and
- follow-up resampling.
This work was done over the summer.
Some outlying fixtures have been mitigated over the summer and are awaiting confirmatory resampling. These fixtures will be out of service until the results can be analyzed. Fixtures that have had filters installed or been replaced will be isolated until they can be re-tested.
Work to test water in 2018 to 2020
In 2018, 2019 and 2020, we tested the drinking water in all Yukon schools for lead. We either replaced or shut off fixtures that didn’t meet Health Canada’s Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality.
In 2019, Health Canada updated the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality. They set the maximum allowable concentration (MAC) of lead in drinking water at 0.005 mg/L.
In 2024, we retested drinking water fixtures in Yukon schools. This means we have comprehensive, current data for all Yukon schools to guide our mitigation plan.
What do I need to know about drinking water and lead in Yukon schools?
In any Yukon school, the best place to get drinking water is from the school:
- water fountains;
- water bottle filling stations; or
- sinks located in home-ecomomics rooms or kitchen spaces.
Water samples from these fixtures show lead levels that are below the MAC for lead in the Canadian guidelines. You can talk to your child or your child’s teacher about their access to a:
- water bottle filling station; or
- water fountain.
Following the extensive testing to date, the Government of Yukon is confident that students and staff are not being exposed to lead levels that would be considered a health risk.
The Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health advises that occasionally drinking water from fixtures with slightly elevated lead levels is not a significant health risk. Children drink water from many sources. Drinking water from these fixtures would not be enough to significantly impact their health or development.
Learn more from 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)
Lead is a metal that occurs naturally in low levels in the environment. Everyone is exposed to very small amounts of lead through:
- air;
- soil;
- household dust;
- food;
- drinking water; and
- various consumer products.
A summary of the water test results is organized by school below. You can also read the detailed 2024 test results.
As we complete the work, we will update the table below.
Number of drinking water fixtures we tested | Number of water fixtures we’re removing, replacing or mitigating* | Status of work | |
Christ the King Elementary | 13 classroom | 6 | Complete |
Chief Zzeh Gittlit | 7 classroom | 2 | Complete |
CSSC Mercier | 13 kitchen 6 fountains 3 classroom 22 total | 1 | 1 fixture isolated awaiting testing after replacement |
Del Van Gorder | 15 classroom | 1 fixture isolated awaiting testing after replacement | |
Elijah Smith Elementary | 22 classroom | 7 | Complete |
Eliza Van Bibber | 10 classroom | 7 | 1 fixture isolated awaiting testing after replacement |
École Émilie-Tremblay | 13 classroom | 9 | Complete |
F.H. Collins Secondary | 27 classroom | 9 | Complete |
Gadzoosdaa Student Residence | 1 fountain | 3 | 1 fixture isolated awaiting testing after replacement |
Golden Horn Elementary | 14 classroom | 9 | Complete |
Ghùch Tlâ Community School | 6 classroom | 6 | 1 fixture isolated awaiting testing after replacement |
Grey Mountain Primary | 3 classroom | 2 | Complete |
Hidden Valley Elementary | 8 classroom | 5 | Complete |
Holy Family Elementary | 9 classroom | 8 | Complete |
Individual Learning Centre | 3 kitchen 3 total | 0 | No work needed |
Jack Hulland Elementary | 29 classroom | 7 | Complete |
Johnson Elementary | 12 classroom | 6 | Complete |
J.V. Clark | 16 classroom | 14 | 1 fixture isolated awaiting testing after filter installation |
Khàtìnas.àxh | 6 classroom | 2 | Complete |
Kluane Lake | 1 fountain | 0 | No work needed |
Nelnah Bessie John | 1 fountain | 0 | No work needed |
Porter Creek Secondary | 11 classroom | 2 | Complete |
Robert Service | 18 classroom | 21 | 7 fixtures have temporary signage in place until replacement/retesting is complete |
Ross River School | 7 classroom | 8 | Complete |
Selkirk Elementary | 18 classroom | 8 | Complete |
St. Elias Community | 18 classroom | 8 | Complete |
St. Francis Catholic Secondary | 6 classroom | 2 | Complete |
Takhini Elementary | 15 classroom | 12 | Complete |
Tantalus School | 9 classroom | 11 | Complete |
Teen Parent Centre | 3 sinks | 0 | No work needed |
Watson Lake Secondary | 8 classrooms | 2 | |
Whistle Bend Elementary | 20 classroom | 3 | Complete |
Whitehorse Elementary | 12 classroom | 9 | Complete |
Wood Street Centre | 7 classroom | 6 | Complete |
*Note: The table was updated to reflect the total number of water fixtures that were mitigated. In some instances, certain fixture types have been mitigated regardless of testing results. For example, dental room flush protocols and additional filters installed at drinking fountains. In some instances, mitigation involves isolating the fixture or installing signage at the fixture.
2024 results and testing procedures
How we test for lead
In 2024, we used two established methods to collect samples from fixtures. The two methods were:
- Random Day-Time (RDT) method
- Investigative method
For any fixture that had previously been sampled between 2018 2020, we used the RDT sampling method in 2024. This method provides a sample designed to monitor the average exposure to lead in drinking water in a population.
For any fixtures that were not tested between 2018 and 2020, we sampled using the investigative method in 2024.
You can read more about the investigative method in the 2018-2020 results and testing procedure section on the next page.
Random Day-Time method
Samples were collected randomly during the school day:
- without prior flushing; and
- with no water left sitting in the fixture or plumbing.
The testing procedure was as follows:
- On weekdays from October to December 2024, water samples were collected from drinking water fountains and cold-water outlets used for drinking or food preparation.
- Two 125 mL samples were collected from every drinking water fixture. Samples were tested for lead and the results were averaged.
Testing of the water samples was completed at Bureau Veritas Laboratories in Burnaby, British Columbia.
The 2018-20 water fixture test results show the:
- number of fixtures identified for replacement or repair; and
- mitigation work that has taken place.
How we tested for lead
We tested the water using the investigative method. This type of testing is intended to identify the source of lead in a fixture or plumbing system.
This method involves:
- Flushing each fixture.
- Letting water sit stagnant in the plumbing system for 16 to 24 hours to allow for the largest amount of lead leaching.
- Taking a 250 ml standing sample from each fixture.
- Taking a second 250 ml sample after a 30 second flush for some fixtures.
- Collecting a main water sample from some schools.
Testing of the water samples was completed by Caro Analytical Services in Richmond, British Columbia.