M-1 Rail Construction Causes Water Contamination At Henry Ford Hospital In Detroit

DETROIT (WWJ) - Patients are avoiding tap water at a Detroit hospital following a contamination incident that officials say is tied to the M-1 Rail construction project downtown.

Henry Ford Hospital employees and patients have been ordered to use bottled water until further notice after discolored water started flowing from the hospital's taps.

Authorities say the incident happened Wednesday evening when a pipe was broke during construction work on the M-1 Rail along Woodward Avenue and West Grand Boulevard, about a half-mile from the hospital. The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department is working to fix what is being called "contamination" of the water.

"During the overnight hours, water pipes at Henry Ford Hospital were completely flushed and chlorinated. Once completed, the water was running clear," the hospital said in a statement. "Water samples were taken and sent to two independent water testing agencies for evaluation. Those results are expected tonight [Thursday]."

The hospital says the situation is not impacting patient care services. Toilets can still be used, but employees and patients have been advised to only drink bottled water and to use hand sanitizer to wash their hands. Ice and water machines are also not being used.

An employee, who did not want to be named, said he unknowingly drank the hospital's tainted tap water, but couldn't tell a difference.

"I didn't hear anything about it yesterday but I just found out this morning when my girlfriend sent me a text," he said. "I've been drinking the fountain water for a while and I didn't notice anything, so I hope I'm alright."

AC Young, who was dropping his daughter off for treatment, said signs were hanging up all over the hospital.

"All the drinking fountains have out-of-order signs on them," he said.

Michael Wilson, who lives nearby, is worried the issue might also be affecting local homes and businesses.

"I asked was it just for the hospital or the surrounding area and [they said] 'Well, we don't know. We know it's in the hospital,'" he said. "So, I want to know how you can run a hospital with no water?"

Hospital officials say sterilized water is being provided for medical procedures.

In:
• Detroit