The people of Giessen can once again enjoy safe drinking water from the tap. This was announced by Stadtwerke Gießen AG (SWG) in a press release.
Samples flawless
The latest results of the water samples from the Giessen Institute for Hygiene and Environmental Medicine are available to Stadtwerke Giessen: "Giessen's drinking water is once again bacteriologically safe. The recommendation to boil the water before use is now a thing of the past." Now the drinking water is once again available to Giessen residents in its purity and freshness straight from the tap," explained graduate engineer Peter Keller, Head of Water Supply/Plants at SWG. Since Friday 15 July, SWG has also stopped adding chlorine to the water.
"However, our customers may still notice a slight odour of chlorine over the next few days - but this is nothing out of the ordinary. This is due to the fact that not all of the chlorinated water in the pipes has been used up," added Keller.
Events of the last few days
The results of a routine test last Monday showed that the drinking water in parts of Giessen is contaminated with coliform bacteria (Escherichia coli). After consultation with the public health department, SWG asked the affected population in the city centre as well as in Kleinlinden, Wieseck and Petersweiher to boil their drinking water as a precaution.
The municipal utilities immediately added chlorine to the water and arranged for intensive pipe flushing so that the chlorine could be distributed throughout the entire water network.
SWG are looking for the cause
The cause of the contamination will keep the municipal utility company busy for some time to come: It is not yet known how the germs got into the drinking water. As soon as the cause of the contamination has been determined, SWG will inform consumers.