German city warns of water pollution in case of possible sabotage of military base
Initial tests showed no evidence of water contamination. However, residents of Mechernich were asked to boil water before consumption and to stock up on bottled water.
ADVERTISINGA water pollution warning has been issued in a city in western Germany after authorities raised the alarm that the water supply may have been tampered with.
After a preliminary analysis of water samples in Mechernich, the authorities announced on Friday morning that the presence of chemical and biological foreign substances could be largely ruled out. Nevertheless, residents should be careful when handling the water, domestic media reported.
This includes boiling water before consumption, using it only for household purposes and storing drinking water as a precaution.
The city of Mechernich is home to Bundeswehr facilities that belong to the water reservoir of the same name.
According to a domestic media report, authorities became aware of the possible manipulation after a hole was discovered in the fence surrounding the facility.
Mechernich is located south of Cologne. a similar incident took place on Wednesday.
The Cologne-Wahn Bundeswehr base was placed on alert and cordoned off after there was suspicion of sabotage of the water supply and damage to the fence was discovered in the vicinity of the base.
Due to the situation in Cologne, the 10,000 residents of Mechernich were placed on high alert due to a health risk.
A spokesman for the city of Mechernich said that the fire department’s special unit had confirmed that the water was safe, but that further tests were needed to find out whether there were bacteria in the tap water.
