Northern Ireland

Belfast City Hospital attempts to find source of water leak

Water service workers on the Lisburn Road try to locate a burst water main. Picture by Mal McCann.
Water service workers on the Lisburn Road try to locate a burst water main. Picture by Mal McCann. Water service workers on the Lisburn Road try to locate a burst water main. Picture by Mal McCann.

BELFAST City Hospital was functioning with reduced water supply last night as NI Water struggled to find the source of a huge leak in the supply.

Emergency workers have been searching for the source of the leak for over 24 hours.

It is understood up to 100 litres of water a second was leaking from the system, reducing water pressure throughout the entire hospital estate.

The water is believed to leaking into an underground river or storm drain making it more difficult to detect.

Belfast City Hospital has its own water supply, separate to the surrounding domestic water system.

Staff were informed that a burst mains pipe was reducing water pressure to the main hospital building. They said while NI Water was working on the issue there was no update on "when this will be resolved".

Some buildings within the hospital site have been left with no water as a result of the leak.

Staff and patients have been told that they will be provided with bottled drinking water until the issue is resolved.

A memo to all staff from management read: "Appreciate if all users can reduce water usuage where possible by limiting bathing, showing and running water.

"BCH site is currently on alternative water supplies which have limited capacity therefore you may have water pressure issues and in some cased have no water.

"NIW are working to resolve".