Capital residents have been warned that next week Riga will undergo preventive disinfection of the city water supply. During chlorination, as well as for a day afterward, it is not recommended to drink tap water.
According to Rīgas ūdens, disinfection of the capital's water supply through chlorination will take place from Monday (October 27) to Thursday (October 30).
During this period, the disinfectant will be evenly distributed throughout the water supply network. As is known, Rīgas ūdens provides water supply not only to Riga but also to several suburban areas – in the municipalities of Ādaži, Ropaži, Mārupe, and Kekava.
Although the disinfection poses no health threat, residents are strongly advised to consume only boiled water during the process (as well as for 24 hours after its completion). This will remove some of the chlorine.
For household needs, water can be used without boiling, while water for pets, birds, and aquarium fish should be allowed to stand before use. The same is recommended for watering houseplants.
It should be noted that the disinfection of the water supply system is quite timely: legionellosis, caused by Legionella bacteria, has returned to Latvia. According to doctors, several cases of this dangerous infectious disease have already been recorded, which can be contracted through direct contact with water or by inhaling its vapors. This, in turn, can lead to serious lung and respiratory diseases, and in some cases even to death.
The main danger of legionellosis is its ability to spread rapidly in water systems, and one of the most effective methods of preventing the spread of legionellosis is effective disinfection of the water supply to prevent the growth and reproduction of harmful bacteria.
For those who have been away from home for a long time for any reason, doctors strongly recommend flushing the water for at least 5 minutes – both hot and cold. This helps to eliminate possible accumulations of bacteria.
Leave a comment