Case Study: Supporting Water Safety & Sterilization in MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center’s New Construction

Client: MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center

Industry: Healthcare

Location: Clinton, Maryland

Overview

MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center, a leading healthcare facility in Clinton, Maryland, recently undertook a significant new construction project to expand and enhance patient care. The $25 million expansion added 30,000 square feet to the emergency department, lobby, triage area, and MRI unit, with an additional 11,000 square feet of patient treatment rooms set for renovation.

With such a large-scale project, ensuring water system safety was critical before patient occupancy. MedStar partnered with Chemstar WATER to handle the sterilization, flushing, and cleaning of all new plumbing infrastructure to prevent waterborne pathogens and ensure regulatory compliance.

Challenges

• New Plumbing Systems Commissioning: Newly installed water systems required thorough flushing and disinfection to remove construction debris, biofilms, and contaminants.
• Legionella Risk Mitigation: Hospitals are high-risk environments for Legionella bacteria, making sterilization a key step before activating new water systems.
• Regulatory Compliance: Compliance with ASHRAE 188 and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) water safety requirements was necessary before occupancy approval.

Chemstar WATER’s Solution

As an expert in healthcare water treatment, Chemstar WATER provided comprehensive water system sterilization and commissioning services for MedStar’s expansion.

Key Initiatives:

• System Flushing & Cleaning: Chemstar WATER performed high-velocity flushing to remove debris, sediments, and residual construction materials from the new plumbing network.
• Disinfection & Sterilization: A chlorination and dechlorination process was executed to disinfect all potable water lines, ensuring the system was free from harmful bacteria before activation.
• Legionella Testing & Risk Management: Post-sterilization testing confirmed water safety compliance, preventing potential outbreaks and ensuring a safe environment for patients and staff.
• Water Quality Validation: Final water sampling and microbial testing verified that the water met stringent hospital-grade standards before patient occupancy.

Results & Impact

• Safe & Compliant Water Systems: The new hospital expansion received full clearance for safe water use, meeting CMS and ASHRAE 188 standards.
• Reduced Risk of Waterborne Illness: Chemstar WATER’s comprehensive flushing and sterilization process minimized the risk of Legionella and other bacterial contamination.
• Operational Readiness: The water systems were efficiently commissioned, allowing MedStar to meet construction timelines and prepare for patient care without delays.

Testimonial

“Chemstar WATER played a critical role in ensuring our new facility expansion was ready for safe patient care. Their expertise in sterilization, flushing, and water treatment gave us confidence that our new systems met the highest safety standards. Working with a team that understands healthcare compliance and waterborne pathogen prevention made all the difference.”

— Paul Robinson, Facilities Director, Crothall Healthcare/MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center

Further Reading

For more details on MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center’s ongoing facility improvements, read the full article in The Blueprint magazine:

• 🔗 Paul Robinson – Crothall Healthcare/MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center
• 🔗 View the magazine article

Conclusion

Through its partnership with Chemstar WATER, MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center successfully ensured the safety and compliance of its new water systems. By leveraging advanced sterilization, flushing, and Legionella prevention strategies, the hospital was able to open its new facilities with confidence, prioritizing patient safety and regulatory adherence.