Water line burst causes EvergreenHealth Monroe to close Recovery Center
Published 1:24 pm Monday, August 31, 2026
EVERETT — EvergreenHealth Monroe has ended its detox and residential treatment programs due to a major plumbing issue at its Recovery Center.
On Aug. 17, the hospital district announced on social media that, after a one-month closure, it decided to end the two programs indefinitely. EvergreenHealth Monroe’s Intensive Outpatient Program will continue to operate virtually. EvergreenHealth Monroe, also known as Snohomish County Hospital District No. 1, covers Monroe, Sky Valley and Snohomish Valley.
In a statement to The Daily Herald, Lisa LaPlante, chief administrative officer for EvergreenHealth Monroe, said a main water line burst beneath the leased building at 17880 147th St. SE in Monroe. The burst caused “extensive water and plumbing damage” and the building will require “extensive remediation,” including completely replacing the plumbing system, she added. Repairs are expected to take at least eight months.
EvergreenHealth Monroe is currently working with the property owner, Monroe 35 Associates, “regarding the facility and future of the lease,” LaPlante said. EvergreenHealth Monroe decided to end the programs due to the extent of the disruption, she added.
LaPlante said that the closure has resulted in the elimination of staff positions. As of Monday afternoon, EvergreenHealth Monroe had not provided an exact number of eliminated positions.
“We recognize the significant impact this decision will have on our employees and their families, and we are committed to supporting those affected through this transition,” LaPlante said.
The Recovery Center has operated since 1973 and was one of the oldest recovery centers in the state, according to a March social media post from EvergreenHealth Monroe. The center had 36 total beds, including 10 in detox and 26 in residential treatment, EvergreenHealth Monroe spokesperson Cody Miller said.
LaPlante said EvergreenHealth Monroe will continue to share any additional information about future service changes. The Recovery Center team is helping to refer patients to other services as needed, Miller said.
Now, the closest inpatient and detox programs to Monroe are in Everett, according to a resource list compiled by Ideal Option, which operates an outpatient addiction medical clinic in Monroe.
Since 2024, Monroe has allocated at least $100,000 to the Recovery Center’s scholarship bed program, which has provided free addiction treatment for community members who would otherwise be unable to receive care. From 2026 through 2030, the city had planned to give EvergreenHealth Monroe $10,000 per year in opioid settlement funding for the program.
The city of Monroe did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Jenna Peterson: 425-339-3486; jenna.peterson@heraldnet.com; X: @jennarpetersonn.
