Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Sept 05/01) - Activated charcoal filters will be installed at Ecole St. Joseph school after a water test turned up lead content above Canadian drinking water quality guidelines.

The first test at the school in the spring found lead content in the water was 0.012 milligrams per litre. Second tests in early August showed lead levels at 0.023 and 0.050 mg per litre.

The Canadian drinking water maximum is 0.01 mg per litre.

The tests were completed when lead was most likely to be present in the water -- in the morning before the lines were flushed by an automated flushing device.

According to Environmental Health Services manager, Brad Colpitts, the water is safe to drink after it is flushed each morning.

"But I don't think any of us are convinced that relying on humans to regularly flush lines is the most reliable way to go," he added.

Superintendent Kern Von Hagen said that the district is "moving very quickly on this."

The Stanton Regional Health Board conducted water tests at schools throughout Yellowknife last spring after receiving complaints from parents about discoloured water at William MacDonald school.

Activated charcoal filters were installed at William MacDonald shortly after. Tests have turned up acceptable lead levels in all other Yellowknife schools.

Lead builds up in the pipes after periods of inactivity. The problem is compounded by Yellowknife's "aggressive" water, which means our water is relatively mineral-free but compensates by sucking up minerals such as lead copper and iron.

Before the mid 1980s, lead solder was used to weld pipes in many Yellowknife buildings, including residential homes.

Lead can affect the central nervous system of developing children.

Colpitts said it is important to ensure schools have lead free water because of the high number of children living here with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) and Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE). "These kids are already challenged," he said.

According to Don Houston, director of environmental programs for the Canadian Institute of Child Health, lead is a problematic contaminant at any level.

"There is no safe level of lead," he said. "That said, it is almost impossible to avoid."

Houston said that activated charcoal filters should be placed closest to the source from which children are drinking and that children should be encouraged to drink only from these filtered sources.

He added that the filters must be regularly replaced and diligently maintained to avoid bacterial contamination.

"Overall, the filters are a great idea," he said. "But eventually, over the years, the solution is to remove the lead solder from the building."