According to the district administration, a boiling ban for drinking water applies in parts of the Birkenfeld district. It applies to twelve places in the east of the Herrstein-Rhaunen municipality and three Idar-Oberstein districts: Kirchenbollenbach, Mittelbollenbach and Weierbach (in part). The reason for this is an exceedance of the limit value for the parameter intestinal enterococci at the Mittelbollenbach pressure reduction plant (DMA).
When the faecal germ was discovered, the Idar-Oberstein health authority immediately ordered the drinking water to be boiled in the aforementioned locations until negative follow-up samples were available.
The following are affected in detail:
VG Herrstein-Rhaunen: Bergen, Berschweiler near Kirn, Dickesbach, Fischbach, Griebelschied, Mittelreidenbach, Oberreidenbach, Sien, Sienhachenbach, Schmidthachenbach, Sonnschied and Wickenrodt
City of Idar-Oberstein: districts of Kirchenbollenbach, Mittelbollenbach and parts of Weierbach. In the Weierbach district, the boil-off order only applies to the streets Auf der Bein including the school center, Bein, Dorfstraße (house numbers 31-57), Jünglingsgraben, Junkerrech, Käseicherweg, Knappenberg, Mittlerer Pfarracker, Obere Kirchstraße (house numbers 10-38 and 15-49a), Oberer Pfarracker, Rechstraße (house numbers 43a-75 and 64-90), Reistert, Röllschied, Untere Kirchstraße, Unterer Pfarracker, Weidenberg and Zur Rotheck).
Measures
Drinking water contaminated with germs can be harmful to human health under certain circumstances and can lead to gastrointestinal illness. However, boiling the water for at least five minutes effectively kills these germs.
For this reason, water used for the purposes listed below must be boiled immediately and until further notice:
- for drinking and preparing drinks (juice spritzer, coffee, tea, etc.)
- for the preparation of food, especially for infants, small children and the sick
- for washing salad, vegetables and fruit
- for rinsing containers and appliances in which food is prepared or stored
- for brushing teeth and oral care
- for medical purposes (cleaning wounds, nasal rinsing, etc.)
- for making ice cubes for cooling drinks
It is not necessary to boil water for cleaning purposes, drinking water for pets and livestock or for flushing toilets. Non-boiled water can also be used for personal hygiene (washing, showering, bathing) as long as care is taken to ensure that water is not drunk or can get onto open wounds.
"Please also inform your fellow residents and neighbors about this measure," the district administration and the affected municipal and association municipal utilities appeal to the population.
- If citizens have any queries, they can contact the public health department in Idar-Oberstein on 06782/15-5203.