Here are five takeaways:
1. In March 2015, heavy metal contaminants were found in the Wilmington VA Health Care Center’s water, which had blue-green coloring indicating the presence of dissolved copper.
2. The Cape Fear Public Utility Authority and New Hanover County Health Department issued orders to not use the facility’s water.
3. The water issues prompted the VA to suspend offering dental, urological and gastroenterology services, which forced area veterans to either drive to Fayetteville, N.C., for treatment or navigate what they said was too-complex VA bureaucracy to obtain care at private facilities paid for by the VA.
4. In response to the problem, the VA installed a filtration system that allowed it to sterilize equipment on site.
5. Dental services resumed in October. Gastroenterology and urology services resumed in February.
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