After the floods, the problem is now increasingly shifting to the drinking water supply: many water sources in Lower Austria have flooded, pipes are broken and the groundwater level is high. The result: contaminants ended up in the drinking water. Twenty communities across the country were still affected on Friday.
“The water is not necessarily ‘polluted’ in the literal sense of the word, wherever warnings are given,” reassures Regina Klenk. The state health director speaks of a constantly changing situation in the affected regions. On Friday, 20 major communities were under drinking water warnings.
Chlorine added for disinfection
“The supply systems are generally equipped with disinfection facilities,” says Klenk. “However, in special locations – for example where there are many fields nearby – suspended solids pose the biggest problem,” says the health expert. When the flood hit some parts of the country, disinfection measures were immediately taken as a precaution.
The country’s largest water supplier, EVN, has not only initiated this in risk areas. “We provide drinking water to approximately 650,000 people in the country,” explains Stefan Zach. “This protection measure is currently active for about half of them,” the company spokesperson said.
The dosage of protective chlorine is low
The addition of chlorine is not necessarily reflected in the taste, as the added doses are very small. By comparison, 14 million liters of water are discharged daily from the delivery point in Bisamberg. This quantity requires only 10 liters of special protective chlorination.
Information about the regional situation in the place of residence is provided by the municipalities or can be found on their homepages. If you want to be completely safe: Boil water for at least three minutes.
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.
