Lead in Montreal mental hospital drinking water leaves patients relying on bottled water
CTV
Residents in one area of the Douglas Mental Health University Institute in Montreal are unable to drink their tap water because it contains unsafe levels of lead.
Residents of the Douglas’ Levinschi Pavilion, which is being rented by a private mental health lodging and care organization, have been drinking bottled water for at least three weeks, according to a former employee.
Water tests at the pavilion revealed lead levels at 0.014 parts-per-million, nearly three times the acceptable limit of 0.005.
Lead is a neurotoxin and exposure to the metal from drinking water can result in high blood pressure, heart and kidney disease in adults, and neurological and behavioural problems in children.
“This is an emergency situation,” said Mina Pingol, who first notified CTV of the water quality issue. Pingol is a former employee of Ressources d’hébergement l’Étape Inc. (RHE), the company which is renting the pavilion from the Douglas.
