Two students’ discovery of elevated lead levels in some water sources at Del Van Gorder School in Faro earlier this year has prompted action.

The problem levels were noted by the students when they tested the water as part of a science fair project. The affected water fountains were immediately deactivated and bottled water supplied to students and staff.

The Yukon government said Wednesday it’s committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all students and staff in all schools.

“Following a new review of the 2018-19 test results of water fixtures, it has been determined that 30 schools require further testing and possible remediation due to updates to the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality,” the government said in a statement.

To address this, the Department of Education is implementing a thorough water testing and remediation plan.

Over the next two to three months, re-testing will be conducted in all affected schools to ensure compliance with the updated guidelines.

Any fountains/fixtures found not to meet the new standards will be remediated, with the aim to complete all necessary work before the next school year begins.

“This timeline ensures minimal disruption and maintains our commitment to the ongoing safety of our school environments,” government said.

Parents and guardians have been informed of this work.

The primary sources of lead in drinking water are lead pipes, faucets and plumbing fixtures.

Pipes used to take water from the source could harbour lead.

Additionally, plumbing fixtures, welding solder and pipe fittings manufactured before 1986 may also be sources of lead.

Starting this week, any school drinking fixtures identified with lead levels that do not meet the federal guidelines are being deactivated.

The government said the department will ensure all schools have continued access to safe drinking water.

“As always, the health and safety of our students and staff is our highest priority,” said Education Minister Jeanie McLean.

“I’d like to commend the students at Del Van Gorder School for their initiative and scientific curiosity. Their testing of their school’s water was not only a learning opportunity but also a critical reminder of the importance of ongoing vigilance in water safety.”

Dr. Sudit Ranade, the Yukon’s chief medical officer of health, said he’d “like to assure all Yukon families that there is no short-term risk to health associated with water fixtures tested with lead levels slightly above the national standards.

“These standards are based on exposure to lead over a lifetime.

“Considering that children drink water from many sources, consuming water from these specific fixtures would not be enough to significantly affect their health or development,” Ranade said.

The water testing and remediation plan was reviewed and approved by Ranade and the Environmental Health unit.

In 2018, as part of a proactive health and safety initiative, the government tested water fixtures in all schools built before 1990 and which may contain plumbing materials utilizing lead.

This testing, which extended in 2019 to all remaining schools, adhered to the standards at that time, and all fixtures with lead levels that exceeded the federal guidelines were replaced.

Health Canada has revised the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality.

It has lowered the maximum allowable concentration for lead from 0.020 mg/L to 0.005 mg/L.

Under these updated standards, the government re-evaluated the 2018-19 test results.

“This review identified that additional testing and remediation may be required to meet the new, more stringent criteria,” the government said.