Water Problems Plague Texas Hospitals After Storm

FRIDAY, Feb. 19, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Some hospitals in Texas are struggling with water problems and have moved patients to other facilities due to power outages caused by deadly winter weather that slammed the state this week.

In a statement to CBS News on Thursday, St. David’s HealthCare said that its South Austin Medical Center lost water pressure and was restricting water usage. Bottles and jugs of water are being distributed to patients and employees for drinking and hand washing. Heating at the hospital was also under threat because water feeds its boiler. The center is working with the city to find a solution and is trying to find “a transportation solution to get patients who are medically able to be discharged home safely,” according to the statement, CBS News reported.

Water pressure problems led Dell Children’s Hospital in Austin to ask patients not to take showers and to use hand sanitizer for cleaning their hands, according to radio station KUT. It also reported that the hospital issued a letter to patients saying toilets cannot be flushed and linens will be changed only as needed, CBS News reported.

Two major hospitals in the city of Arlington — Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital and Medical City of Arlington — were experiencing water pressure issues, CBS DFW reported Wednesday. In a statement, Texas Health Arlington Memorial President Blake Kretz said the hospital was providing boiled water to patients and staff. Medical City of Arlington said in a statement to CBS DFW that it had “several days’ supply of bottled water on hand for our patients and staff” and was working with the city and fire department for additional water supplies.

CBS News Article