Press Release: Councilmember Vincent C. Gray’s Statement on Recent Conditions at Saint Elizabeths Hospital
News Release — Ward 7 DC Council member Vincent Gray
October 19, 2019
Contact: Takiyah “T.N.” Tate
Washington D.C. – Patients and staff at Saint Elizabeths Hospital, the District’s public psychiatric hospital, remain without water for drinking, bathing and cooking. Bottled water for drinking, bathing, and cooking as well as portable showers have been provided and are in use by patients and staff. Initially, the issue of water contamination was discovered on September 18th during a routine scheduled water-testing where the hospital is located on the east campus.
Following an initial round of water treatment, the Committee on Health was informed by the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) leadership that according to post-water treatment testing, bacteria continued to be detected in the drinking water. Another round of treatment began yesterday and will continue over the weekend. The hospital will return to its normal operations once test results show the water is safe to use for all purposes.
Committee on Health Chair and Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent C. Gray has been working with DBH leadership and released the following statement in response to the continued drinking water emergency at Saint Elizabeths Hospital:
“I intend to address this issue of water contamination at Saints Elizabeths Hospital during my upcoming oversight hearing in Ward 7 on the Department of Behavioral Health. This DBH hearing was scheduled prior to the water-quality issue at Saint Elizabeths and will examine a variety of matters including, but not limited to: behavioral health issues that impact residents in Wards 7 and 8; grant spending and results; expansion of school-based mental health services; behavioral health engagement on Minnesota Avenue, NE; and allegations of patient abuse at St. Elizabeths Hospital. The hearing will also examine the issue of water contamination at St. Elizabeths Hospital, and the agency’s short- and long-term response,” stated Gray.
The DBH Public Oversight Hearing is now scheduled for November 20, 2019 at 5:30 p.m., at the Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church, located at 3000 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE where ample parking is available.
“The District of Columbia Council’s Committee on Health will continue to closely monitor the water situation and share updates on conditions at the hospital. I look forward to hearing from public witnesses and government officials on the array of behavioral health issues that impact Ward 7 and District residents,” Gray concluded.
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