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N.W.T. Schools: Copper Levels Spike in Drinking Water
1 Apr
Summary
- Copper levels exceeded Health Canada guidelines in N.W.T. schools.
- Yellowknife schools found copper up to 6,110 µg/L in water sources.
- Health Canada's guideline for copper is 2,000 µg/L in drinking water.
Testing conducted at schools in the Northwest Territories has revealed elevated copper levels in drinking water from various fixtures. Results released recently indicate that some water sources at Weledeh Catholic School and École St. Patrick High School in Yellowknife exceeded Health Canada's maximum acceptable concentration for copper, which is 2,000 µg/L.
At École St. Patrick High School, nine water sources surpassed the guideline during initial 'Tier 1' tests. One water fountain showed a copper concentration of 6,110 µg/L after being flushed. Weledeh Catholic School reported six drinking water fountains with elevated copper levels, ranging from 2,450 µg/L to 6,880 µg/L during 'Tier 1' testing.
Officials noted that copper was not a prevalent issue in previous water testing until recently. This follows a territory-wide program initiated last year to test school water for lead, which also found numerous fixtures exceeding guidelines. Mitigation strategies for copper are similar to those for lead, involving flushing systems or installing filters.
While copper is less toxic than lead, Health Canada advises that excessive intake can be harmful, potentially causing gastrointestinal issues. Researchers are also exploring potential links to neurodegenerative diseases. The N.W.T. government continues its testing initiative, with 14 out of 49 schools remaining to be tested.
