Cause of bacteria in drinking water in Ahrweiler

Bacteria in drinking water in Ahrweiler: Cause probably found

09/11/2014

According to the authorities, a contaminated ventilation shaft was the probable cause of the bacterial contamination of the drinking water. Several thousand people were affected by the bacterial contamination of the drinking water in the district of Ahrweiler.

As a spokeswoman for the district announced on Wednesday, have the water in the approximately 12-kilometer shaft from Wachtberg in North Rhine-Westphalia to the county and to Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler one „had a particularly high concentration of bacteria“. The E-coli bacteria were in the view of the district administration by the massive rain of recent weeks there. „Now the shaft is cleaned, disinfected and sealed, the responsible persons assured. For this purpose, the shaft was also pumped out.

Continue to boil water for consumption and oral hygiene
However, citizens should continue to boil the water for consumption and brushing their teeth or use commercially available mineral water. The important health care provision will only be lifted if at least three samples in a row and series meet the prescribed limits in drinking water. „So far, only one out of 55 samples has exceeded the limits“. This comes from the transport line from Wachtberg. „The transport line is now being chlorinated“. It may be that citizens thereby perceive a peculiar chlorine smell. But this was not dangerous, as was emphasized.

Germs can cause diarrhea
Some of the E. coli bacteria may cause severe infections or diarrhea. Particularly at risk are chronic patients, the elderly, infants and pregnant women. According to the health authorities, there are currently no heaped disease rates in the affected region. (Sb)