Petersburg Medical Center board members spent time on March 19 discussing risks posed by aging sewer and septic infrastructure in the long-term care facility and planning for contingency operations if the systems fail.

Committee members said the septic system is weak and that some plumbing is embedded in concrete, which would make repairs difficult. The committee reported an in-progress written plan for how to respond if a sewer-line failure occurs. Presenters explained that a complete failure could require temporary relocation of residents and, depending on severity, “a dramatic” temporary pumping or lift-station solution to move wastewater to an exterior discharge point before connecting back to city sewer. Board members were told that a full code upgrade after renovations could be substantially more expensive than temporary repairs, because renovated areas must meet current building codes.

When asked about relocation options, the presenter described an emergency evacuation plan that includes an existing agreement with the nearby manor as a short-term site, but emphasized that the manor could not serve as a long-term placement. The presenter said long-term relocation would require finding an alternative skilled-nursing or long-term care facility and that a catastrophic failure could threaten the hospital’s viability without outside support. The presenter said the borough could be approached for funding if a catastrophic event occurred.

Board members asked follow-up questions about likely resident relocation and whether state agencies would step in; the presenter said the manor could be used temporarily but long-term placement would require finding other facilities outside the site, and that they were monitoring federal Medicaid policy changes that could affect long-term care funding.

The board did not take a vote on any capital repairs during the meeting; rather, the committee said it is developing a written contingency plan and will revisit this in committee.