Excess lead found in drinking water in the Central Bohemian Region

In the Central Bohemian Region north of Prague, drinking water has been found to contain lead levels above the permitted limit. The water utility Středočeské vodárny has filed a criminal complaint against an unknown person. Restrictions on water use have affected around 15,000 people in nine municipalities.

What the tests showed

Excess lead content was revealed on Thursday by water sample results from municipalities supplied from the Odolena Voda reservoir. The legal limit is 10 micrograms per litre, but in Odolena Voda the concentration was three times higher, reaching 29.5 micrograms per litre.

According to Bohdan Soukup, technical director of Středočeské vodárny, further checks showed that unacceptable lead levels were found in 16 of the 36 wells in the Řepín tunnel area. 14 of them have already been disconnected from the network.

Water is being replaced, but it's still not safe to drink

The company is making up the shortfall from a neighbouring source, so it says the water supply itself is not under threat. However, tap water remains unfit for drinking and cooking — it can only be used for personal hygiene and cleaning.

The water company is currently taking samples intensively across the entire network, and its laboratory is working at full capacity. A sensor has also been installed in the network to continuously monitor water quality and immediately alert the dispatch service to any changes.

"We have taken samples again. At the moment we cannot say how long the restriction will last. We will keep the public informed of further developments," said company spokeswoman Andrea Rabasová.

Lead in the water since early August

It has emerged that the water company first detected traces of lead as early as August 5. From September 10, residents began complaining about deteriorating water quality, and on September 23 all 36 wells were checked, resulting in 14 of them being shut down.

Source of contamination still unknown

When filing the complaint with police against an unknown person, water company representatives noted that there is a landfill near the affected area. However, any link between the landfill and the water contamination has yet to be established by investigators — the case is being investigated by police and the inspectorate.

The restrictions affect residents connected via 5,133 water service connections — the municipalities of Odolena Voda, Klecany, Klíčany, Máslovice, Postřižín, Sedlec, Vetrušice, Vodochody (including Hoštice), Husinec (including Řež) and Zdiby.

Residents receiving water in containers

Local authorities have already set up 21 containers of drinking water, with another batch to be provided by Prague under an agreement, and the State Material Reserves Administration has also promised assistance. Schools, kindergartens and healthcare facilities are being supplied with backup water as a priority.

The water company stressed that, due to lead's relatively low acute toxicity, an accidental single sip of the water poses no immediate health risk. Nevertheless, until the restriction is lifted, residents are advised not to use the water for drinking or cooking.

Source: novinky.cz