Press Release: Councilmember Vincent C. Gray’s Statement on the Drinking Water Emergency at Saint Elizabeths Hospital

News Release — Ward 7 DC Council member Vincent Gray

October 8, 2019         

Contact: Takiyah “T.N.” Tate

Washington, D.C. –  Patients and staff at Saint Elizabeths Hospital, the District’s public psychiatric hospital, have been without drinking water for an extended period.  This issue was discovered during a routine scheduled water-testing where the hospital is located on the east campus.  Upon discovery, the leadership at St. Elizabeths Hospital was advised by a private inspection contractor to use water for purposes other than drinking until further assessments were completed. 

Ward 7 Councilmember and Committee on Health Chair Vincent C. Gray has been working with the D.C. Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) leadership and expects this issue to be completely resolved within the next few days followed by a 48-hour testing period after treatment.  According to DC Water the issue of no drinking water and contamination is confined to the specific parcel where the hospital is located, rather than the entire St. Elizabeths campus.

In response to the drinking water emergency at Saint Elizabeths Hospital, Councilmember Gray released the following statement:

“I have been in constant communication with leadership at DBH.  According to updates received from DBH, a solution has been implemented to address the bacteria issue as it relates to drinking water at St. Elizabeths Hospital,” stated Councilmember Gray. 

“More importantly,” said Gray, “DBH expects the drinking water issue to be resolved completely within seven days followed by a 48-hour testing period as required after treatment.  DBH has also continued with emergency measures to ensure the safety and hygiene of its 273 patients, including installing portable showers, providing plenty of bottled water, body wipes and hand sanitizers. 

I intend to address this issue during my upcoming oversight hearing in Ward 7 on the Department of Behavioral Health.  The hearing will be held on Wednesday, October 23, 2019, at 5:30 p.m., at the Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church, located at 3000 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.  I join Dr. Bazron in expressing appreciation to the hospital’s staff who steadfastly continue to provide quality health care for the patients during this difficult time,” continued Gray.

“We are receiving daily updates on conditions at the hospital and look forward to receiving a comprehensive report on what triggered this problem and how this can be prevented in the future,” concluded Gray.   

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