Water and drinking
Chemnitz drinking water supply: measures show initial effect
Current information on the drinking water supply in Chemnitz
Coliform environmental germs detected - ongoing monitoring - search for causes continues
Chemnitz drinking water supply: measures show initial effect
Coliform environmental germs detected - ongoing monitoring - search for causes continues
(as at 4 August) Following the detection of coliform environmental bacteria (Serratia fonticola) through regular sampling of the drinking water in Chemnitz, eins energie in sachsen and the network operator inetz are working to identify and eliminate the cause. Daily flushing and disinfection of the drinking water network in Chemnitz has significantly improved the situation. As a result, sampling can be reduced to a two-day cycle from this week onwards. The monitoring does not yet show a permanently germ-free result and will be continued as described above. Work is continuing in parallel to determine the cause. There are no findings to date.
Contamination with the coliform environmental germs previously detected in the drinking water network can only pose a problem for patients with severe immunosuppression. These are, for example, people with stem cell or organ transplants or patients with immune disorders undergoing chemotherapy as well as newborns and premature babies. People with immunodeficiency who are unsure whether they belong to this group should consult their doctor. Those affected may only consume boiled or packaged drinking water. All others can consume drinking water.
Background
The germ found is a bacterium (Serratia fonticola) that is found everywhere in the environment and should not be confused with intestinal germs such as E. coli.
More on the topic
Further information on current sampling and the general drinking water supply in Chemnitz can be found at Eins, the water supplier for the city.
Questions and answers on the topic
The germ found is a bacterium (Serratia fonticola) that occurs everywhere in the environment and should not be confused with intestinal germs such as E. coli.
The germ only very rarely leads to infections. The germ can pose a problem for patients with severe immunosuppression. These are, for example, stem cell or organ transplant patients or patients with immune disorders undergoing chemotherapy as well as newborns and premature babies.
There are also patients with severe congenital immunodeficiencies, people with leukaemia, neutropenic patients (people with too few white blood cells), people with therapies that disable the function of the cellular immune system.
If you are unsure, please ask the doctor treating you.
Only boiled or packaged water should be drunk. This also applies to feeding tubes or dissolving medication or nutritional supplements in liquids. This boiled or packaged water should also be used when brushing teeth or washing raw food (e.g. fruit and vegetables).
Contact lenses or dentures should only be cleaned and stored with the appropriate cleaning solutions or cleaning additives.
Tap water is generally not suitable for cleaning wounds. This does not only apply to risk groups.
The manufacturer's instructions apply; if you have any questions, please contact your doctor. Inhalation devices should not be operated with tap water, but always with sterile saline solution with or without added medication.
In order to reliably reach the vulnerable groups, the public health department has informed registered (dental) doctors via the State Medical Association and the State Dental Association so that they can assess the situation for their patients if necessary.
The City of Chemnitz Social Welfare Office regularly informs all care homes and care services about the current situation and recommendations for action for the specific patient groups affected.
In addition, the City of Chemnitz Health Department is in regular dialogue with the three clinics - Chemnitz Hospital, DRK Hospital Rabenstein and Bethanien Zeisigwaldkliniken.
Yes, if you do not belong to the above-mentioned risk group.
No, measures only need to be taken for children with the illnesses mentioned. Parents should inform the centre if they have not already done so.
Yes, but risk groups should not swallow the water.
Yes, ideally those affected should run the shower briefly with hot water beforehand.
No, this can be done as usual.
The Office for Health and Prevention has a fixed sampling plan according to which samples are taken from domestic installations in communal facilities (daycare centres and after-school care centres) (approx. 120 per year). If there are any conspicuous findings, the necessary measures and follow-up samples are coordinated directly with the facility.
Around 30 to 35 samples are taken from the city's central drinking water network each year. If samples are found to be abnormal, the network operator inetz is informed and arranges for measures to be taken and follow-up samples to be taken. The network operator inetz also takes around 120 water samples a year from drinking water facilities and the supply network.
The samples are tested by certified laboratories. Results can be expected after 24 hours at the earliest. In some cases, the analysis can even take several days. The Drinking Water Ordinance stipulates what exactly is tested.
Stricter standards apply to hospitals, which also test the water in their network independently for other bacteria that can pose a problem for particularly vulnerable groups in hospital.
Monitoring, i.e. surveillance, has been intensified. Due to the significant improvement in the bacterial load, samples are currently taken every two days. The Office for Health and Prevention has taken additional control samples.
The upstream supplier Zweckverband Fernwasser Südsachsen and the network operator inetz are also taking additional water samples. In addition, the water supplier eins has been implementing various measures such as additional flushing and disinfection in the network through its network operator inetz since 4 July.
The Office for Health and Prevention, the network operator inetz, the water supplier Zweckverband Fernwasser Südsachsen, other offices of the city administration as well as the city's clinics and other institutions regularly coordinate the current status, assess the situation and initiate any necessary further measures. These are generally based on the official recommendations of the Federal Environment Agency.
This can take some time because the measures have to take effect in the city's extensive drinking water network and the results must be stable overall before the advice for risk groups can be lifted. Based on experience in other cities, we must expect this to take a few days or even weeks. During this time, the measures must be continued, their success monitored and readjusted as necessary.
(Not only) in the heat: don't wait until you feel thirsty to drink
You should drink enough, especially during hot spells. You should not wait until you are thirsty, as thirst is already a sign of deficiency. If possible, do not drink coffee, highly sweetened drinks or drinks containing alcohol.
Therefore: Try to drink a glass of water every hour, even if you are not thirsty. Tap water is recommended, as it is one of the best controlled foods in Germany.
Water to go
Drinking fountain
There are currently eight drinking fountains in Chemnitz from which you can drink water and cool off. The current drinking fountains are located at the following sites:
Refill stations
There are cafés, bars and shops where you can refill your water bottle or drinking vessel with tap water free of charge. You can recognise these so-called refill stations by the blue refill sticker in the map overview. Refill is a Germany-wide initiative that enables tap water to be made available free of charge.
Become a refill station
Refill stickers
Chemnitz-specific refill stickers are available free of charge on request by e-mail. Standard refill stickers can also be downloaded free of charge.