Although there was a report of contaminated water at the Lakewood Health System main campus on Friday, June 4 tests by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) confirmed Saturday, June 5 that the water at the main campus of LHS was safe to drink.

“The water from Lakewood Health System was comprehensively tested by MDH,” stated Jon Groethe, Public Health Municipal Water Supply Engineer with the MDH in a telephone call. “It was analyzed by a certified laboratory and has been determined to be bacteriologically safe, which means it is entirely safe for consumption.”

On Friday, June 4, the Minnesota Department of Health, in conjunction with the city of Staples’ public works offi- cials, tested several samples of Lakewood Health System’s water after an internal laboratory test found that some of the facility’s tap water may have contained bacteria.

The city of Staples’ water was also tested on Friday and was found safe to drink. The city’s water utility supplies the water to the hospital site located east of downtown Staples.

On Friday afternoon, Lakewood Health System took immediate action. Notices went out to all employees informing them to halt all water and coffee consumption and drink only bottled water (which was provided free of charge).

Employees and patients were temporarily asked to use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer after washing hands with the facility’s water.

Hospital president Tim Rice said any situation like this will be taken seriously.

“We have – and always will – err on

the side of caution and safety to guard

the health of our community,” Rice said. “We value the trust and loyalty that our

patients and employees put in us, and are committed to protecting that at any cost.”

“At no time during the testing period was patient care compromised or even interrupted,” said Laurie Bach, division director of Acute Care Services.

No illnesses or injuries occurred as a result of this situation, Bach said.

The hospital had been conducting routine laboratory testing at the Main Campus on Friday and found one sample that indicated that the water

potentially contained bacteria,

which – if consumed – could pose health risks.

Further testing was immediately begun but results of those tests were not available until early Saturday morning (June 5).

After learning that the water from the city was safe, and while the testing and precautionary measures

were underway, LHS

conducted a facility-wide “flushing” of its water

system to sanitize the lines.