A person heads past the Halifax Infirmary in Halifax on Tuesday, April 24, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
A second water main break occurred at a large hospital complex in Halifax, resulting in the cancellation of some surgeries and a temporary lack of running water for drinking and toilet flushing. The break, which happened just after midnight following another break the previous day, initially caused the buildings to lose heat, but this has since been restored. Firefighters set up a temporary water supply through a hydrant to restart the boilers.
Both breaks affected the Halifax Infirmary, the Veterans Memorial Building, and the Abbie J. Lane building, which offer various medical services. While water has been restored to the Infirmary, it is not yet safe for drinking until three days of testing are completed.
The first break occurred in a pipe connected to the steam power plant for the facilities, which had just been repaired when the second break happened in a different location of the same pipe. This led to the cancellation of elective and non-urgent surgeries at the Infirmary, resulting in rescheduled surgeries at other nearby hospitals to accommodate urgent cases.
On Wednesday, seven surgeries were postponed, and two others planned for the Infirmary were relocated. Although the emergency department at the Infirmary remained open, patients with non-urgent needs were encouraged to seek care at other facilities or through virtual channels to reduce the number of people in the building.
Portable handwashing stations and washrooms were provided in the affected buildings to ensure basic hygiene needs were met. Health Minister Michelle Thompson acknowledged the challenges posed by the situation and expressed confidence in the health authority's efforts to manage the crisis and serve patients' needs.
Thompson highlighted the difficulty in anticipating such issues due to deferred maintenance over time and the inherent unpredictability of water pipe failures. Despite the disruptions, she assured the public that contingency plans were in place and that efforts were underway to address the situation promptly.
In summary, the consecutive water main breaks at the Halifax hospital complex have led to operational challenges, including surgery cancellations and temporary water supply issues. While efforts are being made to restore services and ensure patient care, the incident underscores the importance of infrastructure maintenance and preparedness for such emergencies.
