MUHC sewage woes partially blamed on improper sanitary pads disposal
New Glen hospital has struggled with flooding for months
The McGill University Health Centre says it's addressing the underlying issues that left its pipes clogged with sanitary pads and triggered flooding and sewer backups that have plagued the new site for months.
The MUHC says it's been difficult to pinpoint one specific reason for toilets flooding in the hospital, buy they've tackled the issue by altering the slope and angles for the pipes in their plumbing system.
"In each different area, we've managed to solve the problems and we've managed to get, over the last couple of months, a reduction in over 75 per cent in the number of flood calls we received," MUHC spokesman Ian Popple told CBC News.
But on the sixth floor of the hospital, the site of women's health services, adjustments to the pipes have not been enough and the backups continue.
"When we snake the pipes and pull up the blockage, what we're finding are pads. They're not supposed to be flushed down the toilet. But some people are doing that," Popple said.
The sanitary pads that are used postpartum are larger than standard and that's what's causing the blockage.
The new hospital, which is LEED certified, uses less water than the old hospital. Part of the hospital's efficiency comes from low-flow toilets.
Popple says they're considering increasing the flow to that part of the hospital as a potential fix.