Zirl ends temporary water chlorination after UV system starts

The town of Zirl in the Innsbruck-Land district has ended the temporary chlorination of its drinking water with immediate effect, ORF reported Friday. The municipality said a new UV disinfection system at the Schlossbach reservoir was operating successfully and water tests confirmed the supply met quality standards.

The samples were tested by the Institute for Analytics and Quality (Inaq). Chlor may still be detectable in the water for a few days as supplies in reservoirs and pipes are gradually replaced with water that has not been treated with chlorine. The smell and taste should fade over time, depending on water use and the location in the supply network, the municipality said.

Chlorination began in early August after storms contaminated the water with faecal bacteria. Installation of the UV system was completed on October 1, and electrical work was finished early this month. The system was then connected to the water supply’s electronic control system and checked.