A strain of the deadly Legionella bacteria has been detected in the public drinking water supply in the Alentejo town of Almodôvar, but the risk to the public "is not considered serious," the council assured a suspicious public.
In a statement issued today, Almodôvar council explained that the Legionella spp bacteria had been detected in one of the reservoirs of the water supply system last Friday, after a water quality analysis undertaken by Águas Públicas do Alentejo.
Because it is the "least dangerous strain" of the Legionella bacteria, "the risks the population is exposed to are not considered serious" by the Regional Health Administration of the Alentejo, but the situation deserves "all attention and concern " according to the council.
Exposure to the bacteria can cause a respiratory infection, 'Legionnaires' disease,' which is transmitted by inhaling droplets of contaminated water vapor which carries the bacteria into the lungs.
The council’s logic is that drinking the infected water is fine, "the ingestion of the bacteria does not cause infection" and, therefore, water can be drunk, "neither can is be transmitted from person to person," says the council, stating that "there are no known cases of infection by Legionella spp in Almodovar.”
The factors that create the bacteria are water temperatures between 20 and 45 degrees centigrade, a pH between 5 and 8, relative humidity higher than 60% and areas of reduced flow of water, particularly in tanks, cooling towers, piping and networks endpoints in buildings.
The local authority has advised people to avoid the inhalation of particles from activities such as showers, sprinkler irrigation and washing floors and cars with pressure hoses.
The council also advises people to purge their entire water system every week including domestic equipment such as water heaters, by opening all the valves and taps for ten minutes to ensure water circulation and to avoid the water stagnating.
Almodôvar council stated that "it has the obligation to ensure a quality service to the public" and therefore "immediately initiated the legal procedure indicated by ARS Alentejo” i.e. that it has informed the public and suggested safety actions while the system is purged.
The council and the water company have been cleaning the supply systems with chemicals over the weekend and when the whole water supply system has been cleaned, including the cleaning of the Water Treatment Plant that serves the area, the public can carry on as normal.
Further analysis will be made as to the water quality now the cleaning has been done.
