Engineers ensure hospital’s back-up supply up and running

ENGINEERS worked to ensure Townsville University Hospital’s back-up water supply was operating and ready to be enacted if water restrictions across the region continued.

• A supply pipe has burst at the Douglas Water Treatment Plant
• Strict water restrictions remain in place for Townsville, Magnetic Island

ENGINEERS worked to ensure Townsville University Hospital’s back-up water supply was operating and ready to be enacted if water restrictions across the region continued.

The hospital remained connected to the mains water supply and was required to comply with the same strict restrictions all residents and businesses in Townsville and Magnetic Island were given.

Townsville Hospital and Health Board chairman Tony Mooney said Townsville University Hospital had two 250 kilolitre tanks in reserve should the main supply be disconnected.

“We are extremely confident that we have systems in place to be able to sustain clinical and support services to the hospital,” he said.

“An incident management team met to ensure that we are taking the necessary steps, as a precaution, to ensure the sustainable delivery of water to our hospital.” Health incident controller Stephen Eaton said Townsville University Hospital typically used 300 kilolitres of water during an average weekday.

“At the weekend our water consumption decreases significantly as our focus is on inpatient and emergency care,” Mr Eaton said. “We also expect with the advice provided to staff to limit their usage we will have at least two days of backup supply to Townsville University Hospital.

Mr Eaton said in addition, engineers had also met with partner organisations about further bolstering Townsville University Hospital’s back-up capacity and those discussions would continue

Mr Mooney said it was vital that all patients, staff and the general community followed the advice from council through their official channels, particularly disaster.townsville.qld.gov.au

Originally published as Engineers ensure hospital’s back-up supply up and running