Otwock. Big failure. Water is not used even after boiling

A powerful failure of the water supply in Otwock. Water is not suitable for drinking even after boiling. There was no contamination, but a failure of the treatment station – informs the city. – This is the biggest failure for several decades – said President Otwock Jarosław Margielski. The prosecutor's office will study its causes. Soldiers of the Territorial Defense Forces help with the distribution of drinking water.

President Margielski informed about the failure of the water supply network in Otwock and Karczew early in the morning on social media. He described it as “very serious”. It will take up to several days.

– Due to the failure of the raw water bus and filters at the water treatment plant, there was a break in the water supply. After restoring the supply of water, the water will still not be fit for use for food and sanitary purposes – said Margielski.

The prohibition applies until further notice. Margielski assured that drinking water distribution points are being prepared. Information about them will be updated on a regular basis.

Residents of the commune received an SMS with the RCB alert: “Note! Water is not suitable for consumption and sanitary goals in Otwock and Karczew. The commune will provide bottled water and a barrel.”

Two failures

During the press conference, Margielski clarified that there were two failures.

– After the network was filled, the sediment was broken, which was cumulative on this network. The excessive amount has contaminated the filters that are located at the water treatment plant, and it supplies over 80 percent of the city with water – he said.

To master the situation, a decision was made to exclude the power bus of Otwock and Karczew. Filter rinsing is currently underway. Water clarity is systematically examined. After bringing to the correct level, the buses will be filled with raw water.

– This situation had no precedent. This is the most serious failure for several decades – said Margielski.

He noted that this is one of the two buses that powers the water treatment plant. – The new bus was built around 2010 (…). This magistala is currently supplying. However, this bus, which was the cause of the failure, is turned off and the rinse procedure is used on it – added Margielski.

He informed that “Bypassy are being built at the moment” so as to rinse the bus and filters as efficiently as possible.

Agata Wolska from Otwock Sanepid emphasized that there was no biological contamination. – This is a detachment of the sediment. In the settlement there is very often iron, silicon – she said. – If someone drank such water that flew and was brown, it is not dangerous to health and life. I recommend that you watch carefully. Such a situation, which arouses great anxiety, can also cause gastrointestinal discomfort – she added.

She emphasized that most of the deposits stopped on the filter that was clogged.

The Warsaw-Praga District Prosecutor's Office informed that in the case of the water supply network failure, the District Prosecutor's Office in Otwock took action to bring a crime to bringing danger to the life or health of many people.

Filter cleaning is underway

As Jarosław Margielski explained during the previous briefing after the prior briefing after the crisis session, there was no water contamination, but a water treatment station failure.

– Otwock over 80 percent of Otwock is currently without water supply, also the city of Karczew is without water supply. Currently, work is underway to restore the efficiency of the water treatment station and the power supply of the bus with raw water – he explained.

He emphasized that this water that would be available within a few or several hours in Otwock and Karczew will not be able to drink and for sanitary purposes. It will be possible to use it for economic purposes.

– Raw water does not meet the quality standards that are imposed by the sanitary department. That is why we prohibit the use of this water for food and sanitary purposes – said Margielski.

He explained that at the moment OPWiK employees are working on cleansing filters to be able to “supply water with a certain clarity” water supply.

– We are currently distributing water to hospitals, nurseries, primary schools, public institutions such as social assistance centers. There, first, we distribute water from iron stocks, which we have as a city. Another water supply party is already ordered. Residents will be able to use this bottled water free of charge. It will be distributed in kindergartens and primary schools in the city.

– I also contacted the mayors of Józefów and the head of the Wiązowna commune. There they are available to the inhabitants of our commune Zdroje – he added.

The Mayor of the City pointed out that he was in contact with neighboring municipalities in order to provide as many as possible as possible.

Margielski explained that after filling the water supply with raw water, and then from the repaired treatment station you will need disinfection on various sections of the network and rinsing. – Then the water will be taken for laboratory tests. Only after about two or three days the result will be known, whether the water is fit to drink. If it is not, then rinsing will be done again and we will have to wait about three days again – Margielski pointed out.

He noted that the tests will be performed on various sections of the network.

– At the moment we accumulate all forces to obtain as many cars as possible that will be able to provide drinking water in the city – said President Otwock.

– Water supply companies in the voivodship have technological routes for packing water. We have assured from the Józefów commune that we will be able to use this drinking water to an unlimited extent – he added.

Staroste: We want to avoid the evacuation of the hospital

The staroste of the Otwock poviat Tomasz Laskus said that tanks with water fit for drinking and for living purposes have already been prepared. – Within a maximum of two hours they will be launched at the Poviat Health Center in such a way as to avoid the need to evacuate patients. Nevertheless, we are prepared for it if it was necessary – said the staroste.

The hospital works, but new patients are not accepted. Planned treatments have been canceled.

Independent Public Clinical Hospital prof. Adam Gruca has its own water intake, thanks to which she works in a normal mode.

Firefighters run their activities at the water treatment plant. – The actions of the fire brigade consist in pumping water from the water supply area for filtering and its replacement so that technicians can perform appropriate repair activities – said senior brigadier Michał Gigoła, commander of the Otwock fire brigade. – Our activities also consisted in distribution of drinking water to hospitals, kindergartens, nurseries and schools – he added.

An appeal to parents not to send children to school

The mayor of Karczew Michał Rudzki announced that the restriction of water supply does not apply to the village councils of the Karczew commune, but only the city of Karczew and the residents of ul. Częstochowska in Otwock Mały.

On Wednesday morning, parents of students of Otwock schools received a request that children and young people stay at home on Wednesday. “At the moment we are not able to provide hygienic and sanitary conditions,” wrote the headmaster of Primary School No. 1 in Otwock Dorota Rejek.

Children who come to school will care, but will not be issued lunch.

– We assume that in the following days the lessons will take place normally. We had to dismiss in secondary schools. In the morning there was no physically in the facilities of this water – said Starosta Laskus during a press conference. – From Thursday we will equip schools with drinking and useful water – he added.

Soldiers help with water distribution

On Wednesday afternoon, the Deputy Prime Minister, head of the Ministry of National Defense, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, said on platform X that the Territorial Defense Forces are present on the spot and help with the distribution of drinking water. He wrote that “soldiers support, among others, a poviat hospital; the Polish army also provides tanks for drinking water.”

“If necessary, the scope of our commitment and the number of soldiers will be increased,” he emphasized. He also thanked them for “readiness and immediate support of the inhabitants of Otwock”.

Failure of the water supply network in Otwock