Chief Health Officer reports on water at Perth Children's Hospital
18 August 2017
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Chief Health Officer identifies cause of lead in water supply at Perth Children's Hospital
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State Government to commence a plan to replace Thermostatic Mixing Valve Assembly Boxes
WA Government:
The State Government today accepted the findings in the report from
Western Australia's Chief Health Officer (CHO) on
Perth's Children's
Hospital Potable Water.
The report was the culmination of a month-long review by the CHO, to
review water treatment strategies at the hospital, and to provide
suitable recommendations to remediate the ongoing lead issue.
The review consisted of analysis of prior reports, new data analysis,
interviews with key stakeholders, and a series of specially designated
and targeted experiments.
The CHO has concluded that the source of the lead in the water is the
dezincification of brass fittings.
Many of these brass fittings are located within Thermostatic Mixing
Valve (TMV) Assembly Boxes, located near drinking water outlets in the
hospital.
The CHO's key recommendation is to remove and replace the TMV Assembly
Boxes.
The continuation of current flushing and phosphate treatment programs is
also recommended. The CHO found phosphate treatment has had some
effectiveness to date, improving compliance with Australian Drinking
Water Guidelines from 74 per cent to 82 per cent.
The State Government has commenced developing a plan for removal of the
TMV Assembly Boxes.
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Source: Western Australia Government - www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au
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