As a precaution, Vitens indicated a broad postal code area on Saturday, December 27. According to Vitens, the postcode checker is now leading. To check if your postcode has a boiling advice, visit the website of Vitens (external link). 

Why has the area been expanded?  

On Tuesday, December 23, Vitens issued the boiling advice because a slight contamination with the enterococci bacteria was found in the pipeline network in the Randenbroek district. Vitens does not take any risks with public health in such cases and issues a boiling advice.

On Saturday afternoon, it appeared that the slight contamination was also found in the clean water cellar (storage cellar) of the production site in Amersfoort on Utrechtseweg. At this location, the clean water cellars are partially filled with drinking water from the pipeline network. Vitens also pumps groundwater here, which has been tested in recent days and was found to be clean. 

Because the slight contamination is now found in the clean water cellar of a production site – which supplies a larger area – the boiling advice now applies as a precaution to 15,000 connections.

What does a boiling advice mean?  

Vitens advises residents to boil the water for 3 minutes before they:  

  • Drink it
  • Prepare food or drinks with it, such as coffee, tea, lemonade, or washing vegetables.
  • Brush their teeth 

It is not necessary to buy bottled water. 

If the water has been boiled for 3 minutes, it is safe to drink. Residents can still shower and wash their hands with tap water. Also, the water that customers in this area use to cook food does not need to be boiled for 3 minutes beforehand.  

See here (external link) for tips and more information. 

How long will the boiling advice last? 

It is not known how long the boiling advice will last. The advice will last at least until December 31. When boiling water is no longer necessary, Vitens will inform their customers. They will send an update on Wednesday, December 31 at the latest. Vitens is doing everything possible to keep this period as short as possible. 

Vitens has isolated the area where the bacteria were found and will flush the pipeline network. Meanwhile, they are investigating the cause and ensuring that water continues to flow from the tap for all customers in this region.  

How does Vitens inform residents?  

Vitens has sent emails and SMS messages to people for whom the boiling advice applies. Because they do not have contact details for all customers, Vitens asks people to inform each other about the boiling advice. Knock on neighbors doors or share the message in neighborhood apps or Facebook groups. As a precaution, this advice applies to the entire postal code areas 3814 through 3819.

This boiling advice is very inconvenient, but healthy and reliable drinking water is paramount. Water company Vitens does not take risks with public health and issues a boiling advice even with slight contamination. They are doing their utmost to solve the problem as quickly as possible. 

Would you like more information?  

Visit the website (external link) of Vitens for tips and more information.