Water supply at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry has returned to normal after a burst water main caused a temporary disruption. On Tuesday, NI Water (NIW) completed repairs to the pipe at Glenshane Road, but the high flow of the burst caused some discolouration in the network. The Western Health and Social Care Trust (WHSCT) said staff worked overnight to restore the supply, and infection prevention and control measures have been stood down. Non-clinical areas and buildings will remain under observation until later in the morning to ensure the necessary work and final checks are completed. A patient at the hospital reported that a nurse warned them not to drink from the hospital's own supply, which was later confirmed by a trust spokesperson. The spokesperson stated that the trust was made aware of a potential issue with the water supply late on Tuesday afternoon, and that business continuity arrangements were immediately activated to assess and mitigate any risks. NI Water confirmed that the hospital's water supply was not interrupted on Tuesday, but there was some discolouration earlier in the day. They attributed this to the burst and the age and condition of the pipework, and expressed gratitude for the patience and cooperation of affected customers.
