A Halifax hospital complex was hit with a second water-main line break overnight, after an initial one on Wednesday led to the cancellation of elective and non-urgent surgeries and left the facility with no running water.
A spokesperson for the provincial health authority said Thursday morning that the site — which includes the Halifax Infirmary, the Veterans Memorial building and the Abbie J. Lane building — was again without water and heat.
Nova Scotia Health warned of ripple effects at other hospitals in the Halifax region, with some surgeries at the Victoria General and Dartmouth General being rescheduled to accommodate urgent cases that would normally be handled by the Halifax Infirmary.
Firefighters hooked up a line to a nearby hydrant in order to feed the hospital boiler system and restart the heat. Halifax Fire Capt. Brent Melvin indicated the measure was a stopgap until the water main could be fixed.
The Halifax Infirmary includes an emergency department as well as inpatient and surgery units, while the Veterans Memorial building has long-term care beds. The Abbie J. Lane provides mental health and addictions services.
Nova Scotia Health said the initial break was in a water-main line leading to the steam plant, which heats the building, but did not indicate Thursday whether the second break is related to the first.
There is no running water for drinking or for flushing toilets, but a news release said bottled water has been brought in and portable hand-washing stations and washrooms have been set up near main entrances.
Outpatient blood collection at the Halifax Infirmary has been closed for a second day. Patients can instead go to the blood collection clinic on Bayers Road at the time of their appointment, or call 902-473- 2074 to reschedule.
The emergency department is open, but patients without emergency concerns are being asked to visit another emergency department or virtual/community access point.
Patients with other appointments will be contacted to relocate them, reschedule them or hold them virtually.
