Montreal superhospital water situation resolving after major aqueduct failure
The situation at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) in Montreal is slowly resolving after a major aqueduct failure caused a reduction in water pressure at the superhospital on Friday.
"Technical services are monitoring the situation as the water pressure comes back and ensuring a safe return to normal," hospital officials note. "Clinical services will ramp up over the course of the day, including ER, surgeries and ambulatory services."
The City of Montreal explains the problem was caused by a water main break on a 12-inch pipe at 1:30 a.m. on the corner of Decarie and de Maisonneuve boulevards.
"We will see if it's damage on the pipe, a piece of equipment related to the water pipe," said City of Montreal spokesperson Philippe Sabourin, noting the water main break is unrelated to the heavy rainfall that occurred this week.
Officials are asking people to avoid the area completely to allow workers to assess the situation.
- Have you been seriously affected by the MUHC water issues? Please contact us at MontrealDigitalNews@BellMedia.ca for a potential story.
The Royal Victoria Hospital, Cedars Cancer Centre, Montreal Chest Institute, Montreal Children's Hospital and the Research Institute of the MUHC were all affected by the incident.
"Drinking water is being provided to all patients and staff," the hospital said. "All systems that rely on water cooling and air conditioning, such as imaging machines, the laboratories and IT systems, are being closely monitored."
According to MUHC Communications Manager Gilda Salomone, hundreds of patients were affected by the "exceptional situation," which led to ambulances being diverted to other hospitals and numerous surgeries and procedures being cancelled or postponed.
Montrealer Yvan Bacon, whose wife was scheduled to have surgery on her hand Friday morning, told CTV News they are still waiting to see if she will be admitted or not.
"All surgeries have been postponed for now or on hold until they figure out what's going to happen," he said. "We'll see what happens but we don't know yet if the surgery is going to be postoned or cancelled."
The MUHC says it has no potable water at its facilities after a major aqueduct failure. (Scott Prouse/CTV News)
The City of Montreal could not yet say when work to fix the pipe will be completed.
Additionally, MUHC officials say any staff working on Friday must use Saint-Jacques Street to access the parking lot.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Conservatives demand government explain how terror suspects immigrated to Canada
Conservative House Leader Andrew Scheer says Canadians have a right to know how a man with links to a foreign terror group evaded Canada's screening process to immigrate to Canada and become a citizen.
A former employee breaks her silence about Frank Stronach four decades after an alleged assault
Staring out from a sepia-tinged photo is a smiling young woman with her blond hair swept up into a ponytail as she puts hay in a net in a horse stall.
Calgary storm causes widespread damage to homes, cars and airport
Large hail and heavy rain pelted the Calgary area Monday night, causing widespread damage to houses, cars and the Calgary International Airport.
Fossils suggest even smaller 'hobbits' roamed an Indonesian island 700,000 years ago
Twenty years ago on an Indonesian island, scientists discovered fossils of an early human species that stood at about three-and-a-half feet (1.07 metres) tall — earning them the nickname "hobbits."
Kamala Harris reveals pick for running mate ahead of U.S. election
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris picked Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be her running mate on Tuesday, according to three people familiar with the decision.
Body of missing woman found in Saskatoon landfill, police say suspect dead
Saskatoon police say they have found the remains of a missing woman in a city landfill and that a suspect in her death has since died.
'Significant' instability, bank failures as Chilcotin River flows over B.C. landslide
British Columbia officials say there is a risk of more landslides and bank erosion as a large lake of water and debris flows past a landslide that blocked the Chilcotin River for days.
Do Canadians want a cabinet shuffle? Poll shows divided impact of reset on opinion of government
While speculation has been swirling all summer around whether Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is planning to reset his front bench, new data show Canadians are divided nearly down the middle on whether cabinet shuffles affect how they feel about the government.
Accreditation pulled from De Grasse coach Rana Reider by Canadian Olympic Committe
The Canadian Olympic Committee said Tuesday it has revoked accreditation from the coach of six-time Olympic medal-winning sprinter Andre De Grasse, citing 'new information' that has come to light about coach Rana Reider.