TUBA CITY, Arizona — A water contamination crisis has hit Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation, forcing the hospital to shut off its water supply and close several key clinics in its Main Hospital building. The issue was first discovered on April 21, 2025, at 10:34 AM, when staff noticed a problem with the water lines. By 5:30 PM that day, tests confirmed the presence of propylene glycol—a chemical used in food processing, agriculture, and cooling systems—in the hospital’s water supply. Hospital officials quickly turned off the water as a safety measure, leaving patients and staff grappling with major disruptions.
The contamination, which is isolated to the hospital campus and not linked to the community water supply, has led to the temporary closure of several services in the Main Hospital building until further notice. Clinics affected include the Eye Clinic, Audiology Clinic, Ears, Nose, and Throat Clinic, Respiratory Clinic, Dental Clinic, Operating Room/Surgeries, Soup Clinic, Cardiopulmonary Clinic, Laboratory Services, Cafeteria, and Inpatient Services. Some services have been relocated to the three-story Outpatient Primary Care Center, including the Fracture Clinic on the 1st floor, Laboratory Services on the 2nd and 3rd floors, and Orthopedic and Podiatry services on the 3rd floor. The Eye Clinic will operate with limited services for emergency cases only.
For patients and visitors, the hospital has laid out clear guidelines. The Emergency Department remains open for urgent care, and bathrooms and drinking fountains in the Outpatient Primary Care Center are available, though those in the Main Hospital building are closed. Patients with scheduled appointments in the affected clinics will be contacted directly by staff to reschedule, and the hospital is working with other local health facilities to transfer patients as needed to ensure care continues without interruption. The hospital assures the public that the fire system is unaffected, and the Navajo Department of Health Executive Director, Public Health Emergency Preparedness, and Navajo Division of Emergency Management are all on standby, monitoring the situation.
TCRHCC is actively testing the water to determine the full extent of the contamination, with samples sent to a certified lab for further analysis. For now, the hospital is committed to keeping everyone updated through its website, tchealth.org, and social media. Anyone with questions can reach out to Aurelia Yazzie at 928-283-2993. The people of Tuba City are counting on the hospital to resolve this quickly so they can get back to the care they need.
Published by State Gleam
Keywords: Tuba City Hospital, Water Contamination, Propylene Glycol, Clinic Closures, Main Hospital, Patient Care, April 21
