- Water at Perth Children's Hospital (PCH) is safe to drink
- Final tests reveal lead levels below Australian Drinking Water Guidelines
- McGowan Labor Government delivers on commitment to fix PCH water issues
- Hospital enters final commissioning phase as it prepares to open in mid-May
- A community open day with free public tours of the Perth Children's Hospital will be held on Sunday, April 8, 2018
Health Minister Roger Cook announced today that water at Perth Children's Hospital is safe to drink and has met Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
The Western Australian public can be assured of the hospital's water quality after the Chief Health Officer (CHO) signed off the hospital's potable (drinking) water supply as safe to drink.
This achievement follows the decision of the McGowan Labor Government to take practical completion of the project, fix the water issues and get the hospital open to treat the sick children of Western Australia.
The Minister for Health's approved remediation work to replace thermostatic mixing valve (TMV) assembly boxes and brass components, which were leaching lead into the system, was completed in early March. Extensive water testing and sampling throughout the process culminated in the Chief Health Officer's second stage (final) testing last week.
A total of 304 water samples were taken at randomly selected locations across the hospital using the approved methodology. These samples were sent to ChemCentre for initial analysis. The 'pass mark' remains the same as that set by the Chief Health Officer prior to baseline testing in June 2017.
Based on these results, and analysis, the Chief Health Officer is now confident that the water at PCH is now safe to drink, and complies with the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
With the results of the successful water remediation strategy now confirmed, Perth Children's Hospital remains on track to accept its first patients in May with the final move day from Princess Margaret Hospital planned for June.
A day of public tours will be held on Sunday April 8 between 9am and 3pm. Tickets to the event will be available at 9am tomorrow (March 28) at https://www.pchtours.eventbrite.com.au
Comments attributed to Health Minister Roger Cook:
"Since we came to office, this Government has been resolutely committed to fixing the remaining issues at PCH and to ensuring the safe commissioning of the facility.
"Granting practical completion, with water as a defect, enabled the State to take responsibility for PCH and to have direct control of the remediation of the potable (drinking) water system.
"This hospital has now undergone one of the most rigorous water testing regimes in the world.
"Now that the Chief Health Officer has determined, under his statutory obligations, that the water is safe to drink, we can move on and finally open this wonderful hospital for WA's young people and their families and carers.
"I would like to again acknowledge the hard work and perseverance of WA Health and project staff, who have been working tirelessly to prepare for the start of patient services and to resolve the remaining issues at PCH.
"This is an enormously positive outcome which should restore community confidence that the hospital is safe and set to provide the highest quality patient care.
"I am also pleased to announce that members of the community will be able to tour the hospital on Sunday April 8.
"Tickets are strictly limited as our focus must remain on completing final hospital commissioning activities, but this will be a great opportunity to see inside the impressive facility, built for our kids and now so close to opening."
Minister's office - 6552 6500
