By Karim Hammam
A broken tap at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd hospital in Denbighshire, North Wales, ran for nearly three months and wasted an estimated 1.16 million litres of water before being repaired on 26 October, according to the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and BBC reports.
Tap Ran for 81 Days
The leak was first reported on 7 August, but a replacement part faced supplier delays. A running tap uses about ten litres per minute, meaning up to 1,166,400 litres may have been lost over 81 days.
Health Board Explains Delay
The health board said the fault was initially a minor drip from a specialist clinical tap that worsened over time. Operational estates chief Arwel Hughes said any decision to isolate the tap had to balance patient care needs, including handwashing facilities in the emergency department. The board is now working with suppliers to improve replacement part lead times.
Criticism from Water Campaigners
Waterwise chief executive Nicci Russell called the waste “absolutely horrific” given drought risks highlighted by the Climate Change Committee. Denbighshire County Council member Chris Evans said the incident summed up failures at the health board.
