WBAMC Water Quality
As of May 6, 2022, the Water Advisory for the hospital was lifted. All Patient Services are restored and back to normal.
Water Sampling and Testing
Water samples collected from April 6 through May 6 confirm that the WBAMC domestic water supply is within Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) drinking water standards. Since April 6, the interdisciplinary team collected over 100 samples from across the entire water distribution system on the hospital campus. Those samples were sent to four EPA certified labs under the direction of Army Public Health Center, to confirm initial test results. These samples from various points throughout the hospital water system were tested for specific heavy metals and biological contaminants in accordance with EPA laboratory testing methods for drinking water. To date, water sample results confirm that there are no pathogenic bacteria or unacceptable levels of heavy metals, indicating that there is no health concern in the quality of the water.
The interdisciplinary team is a collective of experts from the Regional Health Command-Central, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Defense Health Agency and the U.S. Army Public Health Center who determined the necessary actions to lifting the water advisory. The interdisciplinary team ensured a thorough review of the entire water distribution system and oversaw interim solutions and cleaning of the system. The solution to the water advisory was a holistic approach to ensuring the quick resolution and long-term safety of the domestic water supply.
The interdisciplinary team completed a high-speed directional water flush to remove any remaining sediment and debris from the system. Testing results continue to demonstrate no cause for health concerns as the water remains within EPA drinking standards.
Long-Term Maintenance Plan
As many patient services return to normal, the following actions will be conducted to continue providing great water quality care:
- Routine cleaning of fixture aerators
- Weekly flush of eyewash stations
- Routine daily flushing of mechanical rooms
- Routine manual flushing of water softener regeneration
- Routine manual flushing of room fixtures.