Stewart Avenue Public School in Cambridge is among a number of schools in the Waterloo Region District School Board where recent water testing results revealed lead levels above the provincial standard.
The June 10 test revealed the “tuck shop” drinking fountain had a standing result of 11.6 micrograms per litre and a flushed result of 7.6 ug/L.
According to Health Canada’s guideline, the Ontario drinking water quality standard for lead is 10 micrograms per litre (also written as 10 µg/L or as 0.010 milligrams per litre).
When levels of lead are higher than provincial standards, the board says it takes immediate action to protect students by following directions from Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change guidelines, in consultation with the Region of Waterloo Public Health and Emergency Services.
The “tuck shop” fountain was the only drinking fixture at the school identified as having higher lead levels.
As a result, the school board says it will flush the fountain daily for the next two years.
In accordance with ministry guidelines starting in January 2020, the WRDSB began testing all drinking fountains, bottle fillers and taps used for food preparation (drinking water fixtures) at elementary schools and affiliated child care centres.
Testing at senior elementary and secondary schools is expected to be completed by January 2022.
The school board makes the results of these tests available to the public.
