As reported, tap water in Klagenfurt has been drinkable again since October 18. However, this is just the beginning of tackling the water scandal, which has so far cost the municipal utility company 1.5 million euros. Now it’s about compensation and new water rates…
For four weeks, tap water could not be enjoyed in Klagenfurt, but on Friday the signal was finally given for all parts of the city. “Since October 8, only germ-free values have applied, which is why we could now release the other parts of the city again,” says city doctor Birgit Trattler after a total of 1,500 samples had been taken.
Source of errors in Waidmannsdorf or the city center
As repeatedly reported, a small portion of the city’s water was contaminated with fecal bacteria – why will likely remain a mystery forever. “The cause has not yet been found,” says municipal manager Erwin Smole. Based on the studies, the area where the enterococci have been washed into the water network can now at least be contained.
“The contamination must have happened in the city center or in the Waidmannsdorf area via a construction site or a sewage truck that flushed the fire hydrant incorrectly,” said team leader Wolfgang Germ, who and his team successfully supplied citizens. “We distributed 800,000 liters of drinking water.”
Measuring concept for more safety
To ensure that such an incident does not occur again, a new measuring concept with 40 additional stations is being developed. In addition, the use of fire hydrants should be limited and private wells should be checked more often.
Compensation that citizens ultimately pay themselves
The call for compensation – which according to the city should actually come in the form of credits – is becoming increasingly louder, because in addition to citizens, catering companies in particular had to contend with additional costs. The total cost of the water scandal for municipal utilities amounts to at least 1.5 million euros – all of which will probably also have an impact on citizens’ water rates.
Because; If there is any compensation, it should be noted that the municipal utilities themselves are already experiencing additional costs. Compensation would entail additional costs for the water sector, which in turn would have to be borne by this department due to the “equivalence principle”. All this is then reflected in water prices. And so, curiously enough, citizens would ultimately have to pay part of the compensation themselves as water rates are increased…
Source: Krone
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