CHEO back to normal after water main break disrupts water, air conditioning on hottest day of the year

A water main break right outside CHEO disrupted the children's hospital's access to drinking water and air conditioning on the hottest day of the year, forcing it to cancel elective surgeries and some clinic visits Tuesday.

CHEO says operations have returned to normal Tuesday night after a water main break disrupted the children's hospital's access to drinking water and air conditioning on the hottest day of the year.

In an emailed statement, a CHEO spokesperson says at 10:15 p.m. Tuesday night, the all-clear was given on the water disruption and clinical care had returned to normal levels. 

The water main broke at around 12:30 p.m., right outside the main entrance, prompting CHEO to issue a Code Grey.

"This incident has disrupted our access to water for clinical care, cooling, drinking water and restroom facilities," a CHEO spokesperson said in an email to CTV News Ottawa.

"At the present time, we are actively working on solutions with our hospital and other local partners to help resolve this situation and reduce the impact on patients and their families."

While the hospital did lose water pressure, it was not without water completely. Non-elective surgeries remain ongoing. 

The hospital emergency room remained open throughout the disruption, but a number of elective surgeries were cancelled, along with some clinic visits.