Residents of the town of Erbendorf, located in the vicinity of Tower Barracks in Grafenwoehr, Germany, have been instructed to boil their drinking water because of the possibility of E. coli contamination. (Erbendorf)
Update: The order to boil drinking water in Erbendorf was rescinded on Friday, June 14, 2024, following three consecutive clear tests. The municipality will continue to monitor water quality and take action as needed, according to the Erbendorf official website.
GRAFENWOEHR, Germany — A municipality located near U.S. military installations in Bavaria is instructing residents to boil their drinking water because of the presence of potentially harmful bacteria.
The Tirschenreuth health department issued an E. coli warning Monday for urban Erbendorf and its villages Aschenhof, Eppenhof, Grötschenreuth, Hauxdorf, Inglashof, Plärn, Schadenreuth and Strassenschacht, according to the Erbendorf town website.
Erbendorf is just over 10 miles northeast of Tower Barracks in Grafenwoehr, home of the 7th Army Training Command and U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria. The surrounding communities house numerous soldiers, Defense Department civilians and their families.
The garrison’s water supply was not affected by the contamination, spokesman Franz Zeilmann said Tuesday.
E. coli is a bacterium commonly found in the lower intestine. Toxic strains may be ingested through raw or undercooked meat products, raw milk and contaminated raw vegetables.
Ingesting a toxic E. coli strain can lead to stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever and vomiting. In some cases, it may lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome, which has up to a 5% mortality rate, according to the World Health Organization website. Cooking food thoroughly and following basic hygiene processes can kill the bacteria, according to the health organization.
The water contamination was likely caused by agricultural runoff from recent heavy rains and was discovered during preventative tests at various sampling points, Daniel Hackl, Erbendorf’s deputy water warden, said Tuesday.
“Although we do not have detailed information yet, there is no need for panic,” Hackl said. “We have immediately taken the spring water off the network.”
Officials said they hope to have the bacteria flushed within the week. The town will inform residents when the water is safe to drink without boiling through their website.
Stars and Stripes reporter Alexander Riedel contributed to this report.
