Patients at Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center spent Monday evening and most of Tuesday without running water after the rupture of two major water pipes.
A Carson City public works chief, who was called in to help repair the damage, said the rupture was likely caused by a faulty pipe rather than contractor error. The city assisted with six workers, two vacuum excavation trucks and a hydraulic pump truck.
"It was serious business," said Curtis Horton, public works senior operations chief. "We knew it would be an involved process."
The first 8-inch pipe broke at about 4 p.m. Monday, causing a nearby 8-inch pipe to burst. Horton said that when he arrived at about 5 p.m., a steady stream of water was cascading down the physician's parking lot on the north side of the hospital at 1600 Medical Parkway. A storm drain saved the building from any flooding. Horton said the hospital crew followed proper procedure to prevent any further damage to the water system, and to reduce the risk of water contamination.
A medical center spokeswoman said crews worked all night to repair one pipe and started repairing the second pipe at about 11 a.m. Tuesday. It was expected to be fixed, and some water service resumed, by 6 p.m. Until then, hospital staff and visitors were using portable toilets stationed outside the emergency department and on the west side of the cafeteria.
"They really got the port o' potties out quick," said Barbara Holstein, of Carson City. She was visiting her husband in the hospital Tuesday morning and had to trek down from the third floor to find the bathroom.
The water problem didn't shutter the medical center. Three babies were born Monday.
"The emergency room remained open," said medical center spokeswoman Diane Rush. "There were no complications and staff handled it very professionally."
She said bottled water was distributed to 114 patients and staff. Hand sanitizer, towelettes and sanitized water kept in stock were used. All surgeries were postponed until today. One emergency surgery was diverted to a Reno hospital.
Rush said the engineering staff noticed water seeping out of the ground at around 4 p.m.
Tuesday afternoon, crews were still working inside a 6-foot hole to repair the fire service water line.
The city operations chief said it could be the pipe responsible for breaking the domestic water line. The cost of repair is not yet known.
The medical center is testing the water for contamination and expects results by noon today. At that time normal water service - for drinking and bathing - will resume.
• Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.