The cause of the bacterial contamination in Klagenfurt’s drinking water is still being feverishly investigated. The federal army is now coming with a water tank and a water purification system to provide the population of Klagenfurt with water.
Since Friday, the recommendation is to boil Klagenfurt tap water before drinking it. Drinking water is also being distributed, sometimes in tetra packs for milk. “Today we distributed 8,800 liters of Berglandmilch water in tetra packs. Tomorrow, another 20,000 packers will come,” says Wolfgang Germ, who acts as operations manager for the operations team. “It is an operational team, not a crisis team. Because we do not have a crisis because we have enough water. You just have to put it on the back burner at the moment.”
The federal army is approaching
On Thursday, the Federal Army will distribute water from a certified container, on Friday the army’s water purification system, which was previously used during the floods in Lower Austria, will arrive, according to Colonel Thomas Enenkel: “The system can treat 10,000 liters per hour.”
In the meantime, the entire system is being flushed. “In the west of Klagenfurt, the bacteria levels were slightly higher. But the water that comes afterwards is good. So we are flushing the system. It involves about 900 kilometers of water pipes and 50,000 connections,” says Erwin Smole, member of the municipal board. The north of the state capital will probably be the first to release drinking water, but when that will be is unclear.
The search for the cause is in full swing. The 1,550 fire hydrants are currently closed, all recent pipe breaks and the construction sites are being checked. 20 water samples are taken every day and 20 analyses are available every day. However, the cultures in the water need 48 hours to grow before they can draw conclusions.
Vulnerable people in particular must protect themselves
“Healthy people will have no problem drinking the water at the moment, but vulnerable people need to protect themselves. That’s why it still applies: boil water before drinking it. Nothing can happen while brushing your teeth or taking a shower. If someone has large wounds, the immune system is already working and no bacteria should get into the wound,” says Nadja Ladurner from the health authority.
Mayor Christian Scheider stressed on Wednesday that all public and private kindergartens, schools, homes and other institutions would be supplied with water and that every resident of Klagenfurt would be able to get water from the fairground car park or from municipal utilities.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
