Alert in the town of Châteauroux. The municipal safeguard plan was launched this Friday, June 17, at the end of the afternoon, after detecting the presence of bacteria in part of the city’s drinking water network. In the northern half of Châteauroux, tap water is contaminated with Escherichia coli bacteria.
For the 25,000 inhabitants concerned, it is forbidden to drink tap waterto consume drinking water for food use (drinking, food preparation), as well as for brushing teeth. For infants, it is forbidden to use the water on their skin (shower, bath, care…). For adults, this is not a problem. These measures are in effect at least until Sunday evening, pending the results of the analyses.
Which area is affected?
The entire northern part of Châteauroux is affected by these prohibition measures. It is the area north of the railway line which crosses the city. In detail, the entire city center is concerned, as well as the Beaulieu, Pointerie, Bourie, Marins, Saint-Christophe, Vaugirard, Saint-Denis, Rocheforts and Bitray districts. Surrounding towns are not affected. You can find the map of the affected area in this article.
Should we be worried if we drank tap water?
The authorities want to send a reassuring message. Do not worry if you have drunk contaminated tap water in recent days. “The latest analyzes show very, very low contamination rates.explains Anne Dupetit, assistant to the departmental director of the ARS. The vast majority of people will have no symptoms.”. She specifies that the most fragile people can have stomach aches and diarrhea. It is therefore necessary to remember to hydrate a lot by drinking bottled water, especially in this period of high heat.
If you experience stomach upset, you can drink sugar water, fruit juices and eat rice, compotes and bananas, advises the ARS. If this persists, you can get anti-diarrheal drugs from pharmacies. Attention, do not call 15 or 18 if you do not have severe symptoms so as not to overwhelm the emergency services. The Châteauroux hospital and doctors in the area concerned have not noticed an increase in cases of gastric disorders in recent days.
Where to get water packs in Châteauroux?
Water distribution points have been set up to allow Castelroussins to continue to hydrate during this heat wave period. This Friday evening until midnightthe town hall, accompanied by the Saur (the water distribution service in Châteauroux) and Civil Protection, organizes four distribution points:
- In the center of La Valla, behind the Balsan’éo aquatic center
- At the Saint-Denis gymnasium
- At the bowling alley of Belle-Isle
- In front of the national Equinoxe stage
Each household can collect a pack of water. Two additional distribution points are to open on Saturday in Châteauroux to streamline and simplify procedures. Deliveries for the elderly registered in the file of fragile people and those who benefit from home meal delivery are also planned for this Friday evening. This concerns 720 people. In case of questions, you must call 05.87.23.10.09.
Here too, the authorities want to be reassuring: there will be enough water for everyone for the whole weekend. 75,000 bottles of water will arrive this Friday evening, in addition to the already existing stocks, indicates the municipality. “It allows us to last all weekend”, assures Mayor Gil Avérous, who claims to be optimistic. In order to avoid any risk of stock shortages, supermarkets and water distributors in the sector have been contacted.
When to consider a return to normal?
Analyzes are in progress to test the quality of the water in the network. The first results are expected on Sunday evening. But the first encouraging signs are already there, provide Saur, the water distribution service. “The second analysis is ten times weaker than the firstexplains the director. We continue the disinfection of the water, the investigations and the analyzes as long as the results are not positive. A return to normal on Sunday evening is envisaged.
Why is the water contaminated?
Investigations are therefore still underway to understand the origin of this water contamination by the bacterium Escherichia coli. His presence was detected in the middle of the week with the results of the analysis of samples taken on Monday. You should know that samples are taken daily by the ARS to ensure the quality of the water.
After the discovery of the higher rate of bacteria, it was necessary to do a counter-analysis the next day, which confirmed the presence of the bacteria. How to explain the presence of the bacterium in the water network? The hypothesis considered is insufficient disinfection at the beginning of the week in Chateauroux. The drinking water production units are disinfected with chlorine, but the high temperatures may have favored the proliferation of the bacteria.