Coli bacteria Citizens need to boil drinking water

Coli bacteria: Tens of thousands should boil drinking water

09/06/2014

In parts of Rhineland-Palatinate, drinking water is currently contaminated with bacteria. The cause is unknown. Tens of thousands of people in the region are required to use only boiled water for drinking, eating and brushing their teeth for the time being.

Tens of thousands of residents are to boil water
As announced on Friday, in parts of the Rhineland-Palatinate town of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler and the county county, the drinking water is contaminated with E-coli bacteria. An end is not yet foreseeable. This informed the health department of the circle Ahrweiler. Tens of thousands of people in the affected area should therefore use only boiled water for drinking, oral hygiene and food preparation. Showering and bathing are not dangerous.

Health hazards caused by bacteria
Another measure is that the water is chlorinated by the drinking water works. The reason for the contamination is still unclear. At 28 sites, samples would be taken daily to clarify the cause of the infestation with the bacteria. The bacteria called Escherichia coli (E. coli) belong to the natural intestinal flora of humans and animals. Some of them can cause gastrointestinal infections with indigestion such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Drinking water contaminated with E-coli bacteria is unfortunately not uncommon, only a month ago a corresponding contamination was reported from the northern Altmarkkreis Salzwedel in Saxony-Anhalt. (Ad)