Public health

Accused: Veteran’s Administration medical center, of dirty water conditions

HOUSTON – A former employee of the Veteran’s Administration’s Michael E. DeBakey Medical Center in Houston, alleges there are unsanitary water conditions at the facility. Former boiler technician Tarref Simon says while he was working at the DeBakey Medical Center the facility had a major problem with clean water because the main water line often became impacted with mud and sediment.

Simon alleges he has witnessed several instances where dirty water was being distributed to patient rooms, bathrooms, and ice machines – the same machines that were used used to pack ice for patient organs.

According to Simon, VA patients were regularly exposed to unsanitary water conditions through the water main that connected to the valve that separated the city of Houston’s water from the VA’s central line. He said, when the line was inspected it was full of compacted mud and sediment. This allegedly caused clogged pipes to lavatories and other rooms.

He says sinks would spew “discolored, foul-smelling, and muddy water” and toilets would become clogged with mud. “While the Bakey Medical Center saved, money cutting corners, the patients, in their care, who had compromised immune systems, serious health challenges, renal health concerns or were more at […]

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Accused: Veteran’s Administration medical center, of dirty water conditions

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