Fecal bacterium found in Goor water, boil-water advisory issued
Residents in parts of Goor are being urged to boil their tap water for three minutes before drinking, cooking, or brushing their teeth after the enterococcus bacteria was detected in the local supply, water company Vitens said Friday. Enterococcus is a fecal bacterium, and its presence in tap water indicates contamination of the water supply.
The contamination, described as light, was discovered in the storage reservoir where water is kept before being distributed to households, RTV Oost reported. Water remains safe to use for showering, washing dishes, and handwashing without boiling, Vitens said.
The advisory applies to households in postcode 7471 and several in 7472, 7475, and 7495, including 7472 AA, AB, AC, DA, DB, DD, DE, DG, DH, DJ, DK, DL, 7472 EA, 7475 TC, and 7495 RJ, RW, SB, SE, SH, SK, SM, and SN.
Vitens is reportedly conducting repeated tests and investigating the cause. The company could not say how long the measure will remain in place, but affected residents will receive an update by Tuesday evening, September 9.
A Vitens spokeswoman said, “We are investigating where it came from.” The company stressed that while enterococcus usually poses no risk to healthy people, it can cause infections in individuals with weakened immune systems.
Goor faced a similar advisory in June 2024, when heavy rainfall raised groundwater levels and allowed surface water to enter wells. Vitens said this new case is unrelated, as the contamination this time was found in the storage reservoir.
