Suspected contamination: water in some neighborhoods safe
In three municipalities – Anières, Corsier, and Hermance – the water is unsafe for consumption throughout their territories. Ten other municipalities are affected, but in certain neighborhoods, drinking water can be used again.
A large diameter pipe burst on Sunday morning near Baby-Plage, by the Gustave-Ador quay, causing a risk of contamination of the water network.
LAURENT GUIRAUD
- A pipe burst near the Eaux-Vives beach on Sunday morning.
- More than 40,000 residents of the nine affected municipalities can no longer drink the water.
- The SIG has set up sixteen drinking water distribution points in the affected areas.
- The results of the bacteriological analyses will determine if the water is drinkable or not.
Since Sunday morning, tens of thousands of residents on the left bank can no longer drink tap water. A large diameter pipe burst around 4 a.m. near Baby-Plage, by the Gustave-Ador quay, leading to a risk of contamination of the water network. Three municipalities are completely affected where the water is unsafe across their territories: Anières, Corsier, and Hermance.
However, ten other municipalities are only partially affected because the damaged water network does not serve their entire territories. These municipalities are Chêne-Bougeries, Chêne-Bourg, Choulex, Collonge-Bellerive, Cologny, Meinier, Puplinge, Thônex, Vandœuvres, and a sector of Eaux-Vives in the city of Geneva. Thus, in certain neighborhoods of a municipality, the water may be potentially contaminated due to being routed through the damaged network, while in other nearby areas, it is safe because it comes from another pipeline. The SIG has published maps on their site to know the details, address by address, of the “drinkable” and “non-drinkable” zones.
Recommendations to adopt
In the areas where the water is potentially unsafe for consumption, the following precautionary recommendations apply:
➔ If the water has an abnormal appearance or discoloration: do not use it at all.
➔ If the water is clear: do not drink tap water or give it to animals, do not use it to wash food, and do not use water for brushing teeth. Water can be used for showering and toilet purposes. Boiled water can be consumed and used normally, the SIG specifies.
The health risks of consuming contaminated water are vomiting, diarrhea, and gastrointestinal issues. If symptoms persist, it is advisable to consult a doctor.
Reassuring early results
The Geneva Industrial Services (SIG) announced at midday on Monday that the initial bacteriological analyses are reassuring. However, a definitive verdict will have to wait until Tuesday. If the results are good, restrictions could be lifted. Currently, the health impact is low, according to the cantonal doctor, and no increase in hospital admissions has been observed.
The SIG reports having distributed 20,160 liters of water on Sunday, especially in nurseries and EMS, and 14,400 liters on Monday. Distributions continue on Tuesday. Coop has decided to give away bottles of water for free in the affected municipalities and delivered 96 pallets of water to the Industrial Services.
Aside from using water for drinking, water can be used for household purposes such as washing machines. For dishwashers, it is recommended to use programs that allow minimal heating to 70°C.
A hotline is operational at 0844 800 808.
Unprecedented Incident
Sunday’s incident created a vacuum in the network and could have caused the suction of external elements into the drinking water pipes. This does not refer to wastewater elements but bacteria present in the air that could come into contact with the water in the pipes, specifies Véronique Tanerg, spokesperson for the SIG. She adds that teams are actively working to repair the pipe and are doing everything possible to restore drinking water supply as quickly as possible.
According to one of the SIG spokespeople, an incident of this magnitude is unprecedented, “it has happened that a municipality was affected, but never nine at the same time.”
Late Sunday evening, the SIG announced that 11 streets located in the Eaux-Vives, Chêne-Bourg, and Chêne-Bougeries neighborhoods are “partially affected.” (see box below)
In the city of Geneva, these include: Quai Gustave-Ador 66a, 78, 82; route de Frontenex; plateau de Frontenex 5a, 5b, 5c, and from 7 to 7g; chemin de Plonjon 1 and 3; chemin du Port-Noir from 4 to 10; chemin Frank-Thomas from 20 to 26
In Chêne-Bougeries: chemin des Buclines 50, chemin de la Montagne 87 A, 87 B, 87 C, chemin du Petit-Pont 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, chemin de l’Armoise.
In Chêne-Bourg: avenue de Bel-Air 80B; chemin du Petit-Bel-Air, avenue A.-M.-Mirany 36.
For the cantonal chemist, Patrick Edder, the current situation is one of “suspicion.” “Bacteriological analyses are underway. The first results will be available on Monday morning and will determine whether the water is drinkable or not.” If contaminated, additional tests will need to be conducted, and it will take three days to obtain a precise assessment.
A large diameter pipe burst occurred on Sunday morning near the Gustave Ador quay.
PIERRE ALBOUY
By Sunday afternoon, Simon Regard, the deputy cantonal doctor, reported that there is currently no health impact and recommended contacting vulnerable relatives to ensure they have access to clean water.
Sixteen water distribution points
While awaiting results, SIG teams, with the help of the SIS, volunteer firefighters, and civil protection, installed sixteen drinking water supply points on Sunday evening. These are “goats” – faucets connected to fire hydrants – hooked up to a network not affected by the incident, the SIG specifies, as well as mobile tanks in cisterns. Residents must bring their containers to supply themselves (see the map below). These facilities will remain until the water is drinkable again.
Additionally, bottles of drinking water will be distributed in EMS and nurseries, which will therefore be open on Monday. This is also the case for schools. Fifteen primary schools, two orientation cycles, and eleven specialized schools are affected by this incident. “Even though a supply of drinking water will be available for students who do not have their own containers, it is preferable that they bring a large bottle of water for the day,” SIG requests. They assure that all necessary measures have been taken to ensure meals in school restaurants and activities in after-school programs.
Finally, a hotline has been established by the SIG to answer specific questions: 0844 800 808.
Sixteen supply points were installed on Sunday evening.
SIG
Hospitals and EMS organize
The Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) stated during the day that they are preparing for a possible influx of patients to the Emergency department – but there has not been a surge of cases – and have ensured they have sufficient water reserves in their four sites affected by the incident – Bellerive, Curabilis, Trois-Chêne, and Belle-Idée. In the EMS, efforts have also been made. Tiziana Schaller, the general director of four establishments affected by the restrictions, explained that their technical service has been working to assess water needs for twenty-four to forty-eight hours. She added that staff have gone to purchase water wherever they could, particularly at the airport.
On the side of the Geneva home care institution (imad), its communications director, Chiara di Lella, reports that the Geneva home care institution (imad) has contacted all vulnerable individuals supported in their homes and in buildings for the elderly – nearly 740 – to ensure they can access water, either on their own or through family members. The details of those who are unable to access water have been passed on, with their consent, to the municipalities so that they can supply them.
The pipe rupture caused a rise in the area near the Eaux-Vives beach.
PIERRE ALBOUY
On the side of the municipalities, volunteer firefighters have gone door to door to inform and identify individuals who would not have access to drinking water. The system was quickly set up in Puplinge, but the mayor, Gilles Marti, is furious. “I am furious about the way communication was handled. Residents had ample time to consume tap water before we were informed of the incident! I was personally informed by an email! Why don’t we have modern alert systems, for example, via mobile phones?”
The pipe rupture occurred around 4 a.m.
PIERRE ALBOUY
The pipe rupture occurred around 4 a.m. on Sunday; how can it be explained that the concerned municipal authorities and residents were only alerted by mid-morning? “First, our teams had to isolate the leak,” replies Frédéric Schulz. “Then they assessed its impact on the network and that’s when they realized that there had been an air entry. It took time to define the affected perimeter.”
Gas stations raided
The risk of water contamination has led to rushes at gas stations. The BP station in Collonge-Bellerive was overwhelmed and had not a single bottle left by mid-afternoon; the same was true at Migrolino in Chêne-Bougeries – “no brand, no size, no shape of water left!” – or at Shell in Thônex – “we were literally cleaned out.” At another station, there were still a few bottles left thanks to restocking from another store, “but in an hour, there will be nothing left for sure.”
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