Passau’s municipal utilities officially lifted the boil water advisory on Saturday, which had been in effect since Wednesday. Recent tests no longer detected enterococci bacteria, authorities confirmed.
Chlorination Continues as Precaution
While the water is now microbiologically safe, chlorination will remain in place temporarily. “This additional disinfection may still cause slight changes in odor and taste, but there are no health concerns,” the utilities stated. The health department will decide how long chlorination is needed based on ongoing monitoring.
Recap of the Precautionary Measures
The unusual situation was triggered when routine water tests detected enterococci—intestinal bacteria naturally present in humans and animals but not acceptable in drinking water. The advisory affected all of Passau, plus parts of Tiefenbach, Salzweg, and Windorf.
During the alert, authorities recommended strict hygiene measures:
✔ Boil water vigorously
✔ Let it cool for at least 10 minutes
✔ Use boiled water for drinking, cooking, and brushing teeth
✔ Regular tap water was safe for toilets and hygiene
Drinking Water: Germany’s Most Strictly Regulated Food Product
The Passau incident highlights Germany’s high safety standards for tap water. As a natural product, drinking water undergoes rigorous testing under the German Drinking Water Ordinance, based on EU directives and infection protection laws. 70% of Germany’s drinking water comes from groundwater and springs, with the rest from treated surface water.
Passau’s utilities assure residents they will provide immediate updates once chlorination ends. Until then: The water is safe—just with a slightly different taste.
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