Residents in one area of the Douglas Mental Health University Institute in Montréal, Quebec, Canada, are drinking bottled water after tests showed unsafe levels of lead.
According to CTV News, residents of the Douglas’ Levinschi Pavilion, which is being rented by a private mental health lodging and care organization, have been drinking bottled water. This has been ongoing for three weeks.
The water tests taken in August at the pavilion revealed lead levels at 0.014 ppm, which is almost three times the acceptable limit of 0.005 ppm.
Another test taken on Sept. 18 showed the water was back to lead safe levels at 0.002 ppm, reported CTV News. Staff and clients are still drinking supplied water bottles as a preventive measure.
“A next water quality test will be done in the next few weeks, according to Annie Charbonneau of the CIUSSS de l'Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, or the Integrated University Health and Social Services Center (CIUSSS) on the West Island of Montréal.
The building was unoccupied for some time until 18 clients were moved in on Sept. 26.
“The Levinschi pavilion and other Douglas pavilions are old and, like many residences in the City of Verdun, the concentration of lead in water is an issue,” said Helene Bergeron-Gamache, spokesperson for the CIUSSS de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal in a statement to CTV News.
As of Oct. 23, there were 18 patients staying with Ressources d’hébergement l’Étape Inc. (RHE), a private facility.
The Douglas Institute has provided water to RHE since their arrival. RHE has been working with the Douglas Institute for several years, and rented the Levinschi Pavilion in August for one year.
The CIUSSS is working with Montréal to determine the source of the lead in water contamination.
