E. coli bacteria found in drinking water in Limburg, over 13,000 households affected

Drinking water company Waterleiding Maatschappij Limburg (WML) advises the residents of Venray and the surrounding areas in Noord-Limburg to boil their drinking water for three minutes this weekend. During a check, the drinking water company discovered a slight contamination of the drinking water with E. coli bacteria.

The boiling advice was issued on Friday and applies to 13,750 households in parts of the municipalities of Venray, Bergen, and Horst aan de Maas. WML speaks of a low concentration of fecal bacteria but does not want to take any risks for the health of its customers. “People with limited resistance could experience gastrointestinal complaints,” says WML.

The drinking water supply company advises customers in Grubbenvorst and the surrounding area to boil their drinking water for three minutes before drinking or using it.

The boiling advisory applies to water used for drinking, for livestock and pets, for brushing teeth, and for cooking, among other things. Water for showering, washing up, and cleaning does not need to be boiled.

WML expects the boil water advisory to remain in effect for at least this weekend.

Boiling advice for 2,000 households in Purmerend area after emergency water pipe repair

Around 2,000 households in Purmerend and the surrounding area have been asked by the drinking water company PWN to boil their drinking water for three minutes as a precautionary measure. The reason for this is a leaking water pipe, which has left people in parts of the municipalities of Purmerend and Wormerland with little or no water since Wednesday morning.

The leak was repaired during the night from Thursday to Friday, but PWN still has to check whether the water is completely safe. The result of this investigation will be available on Saturday.

“The emergency repair was successful, but when you've worked with the pipes, you can't guarantee that something hasn't gotten into the pipes,” said a spokesperson for the drinking water company. Until the results of the inspection are known, the precautionary recommendation to boil water applies. This advice also applies to water used for brushing teeth, cooking, washing vegetables or fruit, and for pets.