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Drinking water of 24 York Region schools fails lead level safety test: MOE
York Region District School Board maintains students are safe to drink the water at their schools

YorkRegion.com
Oct. 17, 2017
Teresa Latchford

High lead levels were found in the drinking water of 24 York Region schools in 2016.

A list released by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change shows the drinking water of more than 640 schools and daycares across the province, including 24 from York Region, tested above what Ontario deems safe lead levels of 10 parts per billion last year. The York Catholic District School Board’s St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School in Richmond Hill tested 12 times above mandated levels.

While Sutton District High School didn’t test as high as the Richmond Hill school, it failed 17 of its 20 tests with results ranging from 46 PPB to 10 PPB from July to September in 2016.

“We take action to remediate the problem immediately when exceedances occur,” YRDSB environmental safety officer Kori Zsigmond said. “The first step we take is to cut off all access to the water source until it is resolved.”

Children are safe drinking the water at YRDSB schools, Zsigmond added. If there is any question about water quality, the taps are bagged and sealed to prevent use, bottled water is provided and parents will be notified.

According to Health Canada, the toxicity of lead has been extensively documented in humans, based on blood lead levels. The strongest effect of exposure documented is in children and reductions in intelligence quotient (IQ) scores.

Studies have also linked lead exposure to reduced cognition, increased blood pressure, renal dysfunction in adults and adverse neurodevelopmental and behavioural effects in children.

While 10 PPB or under is considered acceptable lead levels in drinking water across the province, organizations like the World Health Organization warns that any lead exposure is too much. It also points out that children under six years absorb more lead if exposed and any loss of intelligence is irreversible since the human brain is incapable of repairing itself.

Health Canada requires schools and daycares test drinking water fountains or cold water taps where water is used for drinking or food preparation at least once per year. Standing and flushed water are tested.

The York Region District School Board has an independent vendor responsible for testing the water at all schools annually. If a school’s water exceeds the allowed 10 PPB, it is reported to York Region Public Health, according to Zsigmond.

The school board takes direction from public health and increases flushing, replaces pipes, valves or fixtures or whatever else is found to be the source of the increased lead levels.

“I wish there was a defined pattern in what causes lead in the water,” Zsigmond said. “It can be any of number of causes so each incident is investigated on a case-by-case basis.”

If there is a concern, a letter is sent home to parents with information regarding the situation, water alternatives that will be available to students and contact information should they have any questions. Additional water testing is conducted until lead levels are deemed acceptable and access to the water is reinstated.

York Region schools that failed the lead level test include: