MUHC sewage woes partially blamed on improper sanitary pads disposal

The McGill University Health Centre says it's addressing the underlyingissues that left its pipesclogged with sanitary pads and triggered flooding and sewer backups that have plagued the new site for months.

The MUHC says it's been difficult to pinpoint one specific reason for toilets flooding in the hospital, buythey've tackled the issue by altering the slope and angles for the pipes in their plumbing system.

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"In each different area, we've managed to solve the problems and we've managed to get, over the last couple of months, a reduction in over 75 per centin the number of flood calls we received,"MUHCspokesmanIanPopple told CBC News.

But on thesixth floor of the hospital, the site of women's health services, adjustments to the pipes have not been enough and the backups continue.

"When we snake the pipes and pull up the blockage, what we're finding are pads. They're not supposed to be flushed down the toilet. But some people are doing that," Popple said.

The sanitary pads that are used postpartum are larger than standard and that's what's causing the blockage.

The new hospital, which is LEED certified, uses less water than the old hospital. Part of thehospital's efficiencycomes from low-flow toilets.

Popple saysthey're considering increasing the flow to thatpart of the hospital as a potential fix.