A number of operating rooms were shut down at the Royal Alexandra Hospital after a water leak was found early Thursday morning.
The leak streamed down through several floors into the basement.
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A spokesperson with Alberta Health Services (AHS) said the damage was not extensive and repairs have since been made.
Four of 29 operating rooms were closed as a result. That led to the cancellation of around 20 surgeries.
It is believed the leak started at 4:45 a.m. and staff were alerted of it by 5 a.m.
Affected rooms were reopened Friday morning and procedures will be rescheduled for later this month.
“That’s always very unfortunate when our patients have to have their surgery rescheduled, however, I’m pleased to report that we’ve actually been able to accommodate almost half of those patients already with rebookings within the next two weeks and we anticipate to have the other half done within three to four weeks,” said Dr. Eric Estey, chief of surgery for Royal Alexandra Hospital.
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The pipe that sprung the leak is part of an infrastructure maintenance project due for completion later this year.
“This pipe hasn’t been an issue,” Estey said. “It was basically a reverse osmosis water pipe that was located on the sixth floor of the Royal Alexandra Hospital and like any commercial building, hospitals are very complex, they have a lot of structure in them, and unfortunately this pipe did burst. We have not had any problems with it in the past in terms of leaking, however, this piping system for the reverse osmosis – which is our purified water system for sterilization and dialysis – is due for a replacement and has been funded to be replaced.”
The total value of the project is $2.7 million. No work had begun on that particular pipe.
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