Boil-water advisory issued for Utrecht region after bacteria found in supply
Residents across the Utrecht region have been advised to boil their tap water before drinking it after the discovery of enterococci bacteria in the local supply, water company Vitens said Saturday. Residents in the affected areas must boil tap water for three minutes before using it for drinking, brushing teeth, or washing food. Tap water is safe for showering, Vitens added.
The bacteria, which naturally occur in the human intestinal tract, were found overnight in a water storage facility in Utrecht. Vitens said the contamination affects about 125,000 water service connections in parts of Utrecht, Bilthoven, Bosch en Duin, De Bilt, Bunnik, Groenekan, Maarssen, Oud Zuilen, Tienhoven, Westbroek, and Zeist.
According to the company, the bacteria do not pose a risk to healthy people but can cause infections in individuals with weakened immune systems or other health vulnerabilities.
A spokesperson for Vitens said that all customers whose contact details were available have been notified by text message or email. “But I would also like to urge: share this advice with your neighbors, acquaintances, and on Facebook,” the spokesperson said. Hospitals and other critical institutions were contacted directly.
According to RTV Utrecht, supermarkets in Utrecht saw early-morning crowds as residents rushed to buy bottled water. Several stores reported running out of stock, while others said limited supplies remained.
Vitens could not yet say when the advisory will be lifted. “Two consecutive clean tests are needed. We will provide an update by Tuesday at the latest,” the spokesperson added.
