Col. Jason Edwards, then-U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz commander, takes a water sample at the Pfeffelbach Water Treatment Plant near Baumholder in 2019. The Pfeffelbach plant provides the water to the Baumholder Military Community. (Bernd Mai/U.S. Army)
Households in Baumholder and surrounding area are being urged to boil their drinking water after enterococci bacteria were detected in a water treatment facility in the Herrstein-Rhaunen district, according to local district authorities.
The advisory, issued Monday, affects 12 of the 14 municipalities in the Baumholder area, including the town of Baumholder itself.
The municipalities of Frauenberg and Reichenbach are currently not affected. Pfeffelbach Water Treatment Plant, which provides water to the Baumholder military community, is part of the Kusel District, which has not issued a warning.
The presence of enterococci bacteria, which may indicate fecal contamination, has prompted health officials to issue a precautionary boil water order for the affected areas.
Residents are advised to boil water for at least five minutes before using it for drinking, preparing food, washing fruits and vegetables, brushing teeth, or other personal and medical uses. Local authorities stress the importance of adhering to the boil water order to prevent potential gastrointestinal illnesses.
For non-drinking purposes, such as bathing and cleaning, the use of unboiled water is considered safe as long as it is not ingested or comes into contact with open wounds.
The advisory comes as a safety measure following heavy rainfall last week, which may have led to surface water contamination.
The district government is investigating the exact cause and will inform residents when the boil water advisory is lifted, according to the statement.
August 19, 2024 18:37
