Children's Hospital water given all-clear

The Perth’s Children Hospital is on track to receive its first patients in May after the chief health officer today gave the facility’s water quality the green light.

Health Minister Roger Cook confirmed the news and said the $1.2 billion hospital had entered the final commissioning phase.

"This hospital has now undergone one of the most rigorous water testing regimes in the world,” he said

"Now that the chief health officer has determined, under his statutory obligations, that the water is safe to drink, we can move on and finally open this wonderful hospital for Western Australia's young people and their families and carers.”

Originally scheduled to open in 2015, the facility will open nearly three years late, with a number of setbacks, headlined by water contamination and the presence of asbestos in some of the building materials used.

The state government took control of the project in April last year to solve the lead contamination issue, and Mr Cook said remediation work had been done to replace assembly boxes and brass components, which were leeching lead into the system.

"Granting practical completion, with water as a defect, enabled the state to take responsibility for PCH and to have direct control of the remediation of the potable (drinking) water system,” he said.

"This is an enormously positive outcome which should restore community confidence that the hospital is safe and set to provide the highest quality patient care.”

The move from Princess Margaret Hospital for Children is planned to be completed by June.

A day of public tours is being held on April 8 from 9am until 3pm, with tickets available online.