Post by Rick (Admin) on Mar 18, 2013 21:00:19 GMT -5
North Bay Hospital supplying bottled water
NORTH BAY - There's something in the water at the North Bay Regional Health Centre.
But exactly what it is has yet to be determined.
A light film that feels like sand has been appearing in various places throughout the mental health side of the hospital.
Most recently it was noticed after staff emptied a therapeutic tub over the weekend.
Dave Smits, vice president of corporate and support services at the hospital, said this isn't the first time they've noticed the sandy film.
He said the problem first appeared about six or seven weeks ago.
“Water samples were taken but nothing showed up,” Smits said, adding the city's drinking source — Trout Lake — is known to have a higher level of manganese.
Smits said the problem went away for a few weeks and most recently came back over the weekend.
“It makes it hard to diagnose when the problem comes and goes,” he said Monday.
Smits said the hospital is currently working through a list of checks, as well, submitted new water samples to be analyzed and tested.
The results of those samples are expected to come back Wednesday.
During a recent investigation into the water situation, Smits said, the problem was narrowed down to the hot water supply.
The hospital was providing bottled water, however patients and staff will be able to resume consuming cold tap water.
But the situation is a little more trickier when it comes to bathing.
Smits said the inconvenience of not being able to take a shower will only be for another day and if needed patients can be relocated in another part of the hospital to shower.
“Hopefully we will be back to our regular routine by Wednesday.”
www.nugget.ca/2013/03/18/hospital-supplying-bottled-water