YELLOWKNIFE – The Government of the Northwest Territories has ordered the immediate shutdown of specific water fixtures at two schools after routine testing revealed lead concentrations exceeding national safety limits. The Office of the Chief Public Health Officer (OCPHO) issued the public health order on Monday, April 13, 2026, after samples from Echo Dene School in Fort Liard and Inualthuyak School in Sachs Harbour failed to meet Health Canada guidelines.
Under current Health Canada standards, lead levels in drinking water must not exceed five micrograms per litre. While officials did not disclose the exact concentrations found at the two affected sites, they confirmed that the fixtures in question have been taken out of service. To ensure student safety, alternative drinking water sources are being provided while remediation efforts—which include replacing aging fixtures and installing advanced filtration systems—are underway.
In contrast to the findings in Fort Liard and Sachs Harbour, testing results from three other territorial schools—K’alemi Dene School in Ndılǫ, Charles Yohin School in Nahanni Butte, and Mangilaluk School in Tuktoyaktuk—showed no safety concerns. All water sources at these locations were found to be within acceptable limits and remain in normal use. However, officials noted that Mangilaluk School will undergo a second round of testing once its ongoing building renovations are completed.
The current testing is part of a comprehensive, territory-wide initiative to assess the water quality in every school across the Northwest Territories. The government has prioritized schools based on the age of the infrastructure and the age of the students, who are more vulnerable to the effects of lead exposure. Officials have also pledged to reimburse schools for any “reasonable, cost-effective expenses” incurred during this process to ensure that budgetary concerns do not delay necessary safety actions.
Several more schools are scheduled for testing in the coming weeks, including Charles Tetcho School in Sambaa K’e, Ehtseo Ayha School in Délı̨nę, and Deh Gáh School in Fort Providence, among others. Territorial health officials emphasized that no fixture will be returned to service until follow-up testing confirms the water meets all safety standards and receives formal approval from the public health office.
