Pfaffenhofen district tells 15,000 residents to boil drinking water

About 15,000 people in Pfaffenhofen district have been told to boil their drinking water again after contamination indicators were detected in a water reservoir. The district office announced the precaution, BR reported.

Coliform bacteria and intestinal enterococci were found in follow-up samples from the Ilmtalgruppe water supply reservoir, despite cleaning and disinfection work. The district office said these bacteria can indicate contamination, for example from human or animal waste, though other causes are also possible.

Healthy people generally do not become ill from the bacteria, the district office said. The cause of the contamination is being investigated by the water supplier and the health department. The boil-water notice affects the same places as an earlier notice this month: Starzhausen, Burgstall, Rohrbach, Irlmühle, Schwaig, Fahlenbach, Königsfeld, Buchersried, Auhöfe, Eichelberg, Parleiten, Scheurerhof, Holzleiten, Geisenfeld, Ainau, Zell, Geisenfeldwinden, Gaden, Wasenstadt, Engelbrechtsmünster, Schillwitzried, Schillwitzhausen, Nötting, Lindach, Moosham, Straßberg, Gießübel and Schafhof. In Rohrbach, only Messerschmidtstraße is affected. The district office asked residents to inform neighbours and other people in their households.

Parts of the Waaler and Biburger groups are not affected. It was not yet clear how long the notice would remain in force. Water is being sampled, cleaned and tested continuously, and the order can be lifted once results are back within limits.

Residents should bring water to a rolling boil once, then let it cool slowly for at least 10 minutes. The district office recommends using a kettle. Boiled water should be used to prepare food, brush teeth and clean open wounds. Tap water can still be used for flushing toilets and other purposes. It can also be used for personal hygiene as long as it is not swallowed or allowed to reach open wounds.

The district had already issued a boil-water notice earlier this month.