Drinking water in Dordrecht region declared safe after E. coli scare

Drinking water for around 200,000 residents in Dordrecht, Zwijndrecht, and Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht is safe to use again after initial test results suggested possible E. coli contamination, triggering a boil-water advisory that has since been lifted by water company Evides, Safety Region Zuid-Holland Zuid reports.

Evides said additional testing over the past 24 hours, combined with extra controls, showed that the bacterium is not present in the tap water. “Test results show that tap water is completely reliable and therefore safe,” Evides said.

The precautionary boil-water advisory was issued after earlier tests indicated that E. coli may have been present in the region’s drinking water system. Residents were instructed to boil tap water for three minutes before consumption. The advisory was initially set to last 72 hours, until Monday evening. Evides said it is still investigating why some earlier test results suggested contamination.

E. coli bacteria occur naturally in the intestines of humans and animals. While many strains are harmless, contamination in drinking water or food can lead to stomach and intestinal illness. People with weakened immune systems can become seriously ill, which is why water suppliers act quickly when contamination is suspected.