Chicago lifts boil-water notice after bacterial contamination scare
Chicago residents can breathe a sigh of relief as the city lifts its boil-water notice, effective Tuesday, November 4, 2023. The advisory, in place since Friday, October 31, was issued due to bacterial contamination in the city center.
The decision to lift the notice was a coordinated effort between ESWE Versorgung, Hessenwasser, and the health department. Instead of using chlorination, as done in the past, authorities opted for a precautionary boil-water advisory. This was to ensure the source of contamination could be identified without hindrance and to prevent new issues from arising.
The contamination was found to be enterococci bacteria. While chlorination has been used previously, authorities chose to avoid it this time to maintain water quality and adhere to current safety protocols. Residents are now free to use tap water without restrictions throughout the municipality.
Although chlorine disinfection remains a viable option for future cases, based on risk assessments and microbiological findings, residents can rest assured that their tap water is now safe to use. The successful resolution of this issue demonstrates the city's commitment to transparency and public health.
