The NDP Opposition is calling for a full facility audit after water testing at Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford showed higher than normal levels of copper and lead.

Health critic Vicki Mowat criticizes the government for not doing an audit on the new $400-million facility when it recently discovered it needs a new roof.

Mowat says the P-3 contract for the hospital lacks transparency and the audit is needed to find out why such large issues are arising in a new build.

She feels the problems have been hard on patients who have been displaced during roof repairs and says beds have been sitting empty because the problem has prevented the admission of some new patients.

Deputy Minister of central services Mike Carr says there is no immediate health risk, and no health advisory has been issued.

He adds steps have been taken to ensure potable water is available at the mental health hospital for consumption and kitchen use.

Carr says that was done “out of an abundance of caution.”

The City of North Battleford says the hospital is experiencing an internal issue with the quality of its water that did not originate from the city’s water supply.