Supermarkets out of water bottles in Limburg due to fecal bacteria in water pipes

Bottled water is sold out in several stores in the north of Limburg. An ANP reporter in Horst aan de Maas, a municipality not far from Venlo, found empty shelves. E. coli, also known as the fecal bacteria, was found in tap water in the Limburg region on Friday.

The Jumbo in Horst reported on social media in the morning that the water was sold out. A new supply of bottled water was brought there in the afternoon. Many people who came out of the store in the afternoon therefore had a six-pack of water with them.

A boil advisory has been issued for 13,500 households in parts of the municipalities of Venray, Bergen, and Horst aan de Maas. Water supplier WML speaks of a low concentration of the fecal bacteria, but says it does not want to take any risks with the health of its customers. "People with reduced resistance could be at risk of stomach and gastrointestinal complaints", according to WML.

The boil advisory applies for the entire weekend and is intended for water used for drinking, including livestock and pets, brushing teeth, and cooking. Water used for showering, washing dishes, and cleaning does not need to be boiled.

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.

Some 2,000 households in Purmerend and the surrounding area were also advised by the drinking water company PWN to boil their drinking water for three minutes as a precaution. This is due to 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.