Water at QE2 hospital safe to drink

Testing through the weekend confirms water at the Halifax Infirmary site meets Canadian Drinking Water Quality guidelines and is safe for drinking.

Facilities and Maintenance Services will continue to treat the water system for several days. There may be a slight chlorine taste to the water, but chlorine levels will be well within Canadian guidelines for safe drinking water.

While fire suppression capabilities at the site are still reduced following the water disruption last week, enhanced monitoring is in place on all floors for the safety of staff and patients.

The QEII’s Halifax Infirmary recently experienced a significant water event due to a broken water main line in the steam plant, resulting in a loss of water and steam for all buildings on campus. This incident led to immediate impacts on patient care and staff operations, including the cancellation and rescheduling of all elective and non-urgent surgeries and procedures, closure of outpatient blood collection, and advisories for patients without emergency concerns to seek alternatives. Portable hand-washing stations and washrooms are being brought in, and efforts are underway to repair and remediate the situation.

Via NSHA