Elevated levels of lead have been detected at a third Far North state government facility in as many weeks, but Queensland’s chief health officer says the issues are “completely unrelated”.

Preliminary testing has detected lead in the water at Yarrabah State School’s primary and secondary campuses and the kindergarten.

Queensland Health said the immediate health risks were minimal but as a precautionary measure, staff and students and the primary school, high school and early childhood facility were being provided with bottled drinking water. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she was “very concerned” and that she would be getting “further briefings” from Water Minister Glenn Butcher.

“It needs to be fixed up quickly,” she said.

While addressing the media in Cairns on Wednesday, chief health officer Dr John Gerrard, said the issue was isolated and no lead had been detected in people’s blood results.

“It can be as simple as a bolt in the water system that has stayed there for too long or been untouched that can contaminate the water,” Dr Gerrard said.

A Yarrabah worker, who wished to remain anonymous, said the issue was larger than this one isolated instance.

“Water has been an ongoing problem in Yarrabah for more than 10 years now,” he said.

“As the majority of Yarrabah are First Nations residents, a poor water system can have a much greater impact on a community that needs more assisstance as it is.”

He said not having access to clean running water could lead to a range of negative consequences.

“Without clean water, people are deciding to leave their homes and buy drinks at the shops,” he said.

“But water is way more expensive than a bottle of cola, and with that as a staple liquid consumption then starts an array of health problems.”

In late May, the opening of the new clinical services building at the Atherton Hospital was delayed after elevated lead levels were detected at that facility and the Yarrabah Health Facility.

In mid-May, staff at Yarrabah’s health service were asked to undergo blood testing following the discovery of elevated levels of copper in the drinking water at the Bukki Rd health facility.

But Dr Gerrard said it was all a coincidence, and the issue at Atherton Hospital was “rapidly resolving”.

“Identification of lead in tap water is actually not that uncommon,” he said.

“Once water gets into a building, it is exposed to plumbing; bronze, brass and the solder that holds them ­together contains small amounts of lead.”

Dr Gerrard said the fact lead was being detected in water in government buildings could be attributed to complicated pipework, and that plumbing in residential homes posed a much lower risk.

“We are undertaking a thorough investigation at Yarrabah,” he said. Dr Gerrard said authorities were working to determine the sources of contamination and if any rectification works were necessary.