Bacterial contamination of water in Utrecht: 125,000 households affected
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Utrecht (Netherlands) — Alert: presence ofEnterococcus in drinking water
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An alert was issued this week in the Netherlands, after the detection of a type bacteria Enterococcus in the drinking water network supplying the Utrecht region. The water manager Vitens, one of the largest Dutch suppliers, asked residents to boil tap water for three minutes before any consumption.
📍 The municipalities concerned
According to information published by Vitens and reported by Dutch media NU.nl and RTL News, affected areas include:
- Utrecht, De Bilt, Bilthoven, Zeist, Bunnik, Maarssen, Westbroek, Oud-Zuilen, Groenekan and several surrounding villages.
- Approximately 125,000 homes are potentially affected by this precautionary measure.
🔬 What bacteria?
The contamination concerns a intestinal bacteria of the genus Enterococcus, indicator of pollution of fecal origin. It is not necessarily dangerous for the majority of the population, but it can cause digestive disorders, particularly in the elderly, children or immunocompromised people.
⚙️ Actions taken
- Vitens immediately isolated the suspected water tank and launched a procedure of network flushing.
- Of daily analyzes are carried out: the boil water advisory will be lifted only after two consecutive negative test series, guaranteeing the sanitary quality of the water.
- Of water bottles are also distributed in certain neighborhoods.
📅 Current situation
At 1er November 2025, the opinion is still in force, until the new analyzes confirm the complete elimination of the bacteria. No serious hospitalizations have been reported to date, but several residents have reported mild digestive problems.
💧 What to remember
- This contamination reminds us of the importance of bacteriological monitoring drinking water, even in efficient networks.
- The works or pressure variations can allow opportunistic bacteria to temporarily penetrate the network.
- The gravity filtration systems based on ceramic and activated carbon, like those proposed by Monderma Waterfilters, target precisely this type of micro-organisms (bacteria, coliforms, enterococci) and ensure pure water, even in the event of a temporary alert.