Residents in Siglufjörður told to boil water after E. coli detected

Residents in Siglufjörður, a fishing town on Iceland’s northern coast, were told on 19 October to boil all water intended for drinking after E. coli bacteria were detected during a routine inspection. The advice came following monitoring conducted by the Health Inspectorate of North-West Iceland, according to local news outlet Trölli, which first reported the story.

The warning was issued in coordination with the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority (Matvælastofnun) and follows Article 14 of Iceland’s drinking-water regulations. Authorities have not yet determined what caused the contamination of the water supply. Staff from Fjallabyggð municipality’s Technical Department are working with inspectors to trace and repair the fault.

A second water sample is pending, and residents have been told to continue boiling their drinking water until further notice. The Health Inspectorate will notify residents once repairs are finished and water quality restored.

There is suspicion that recent roadworks near the street below Siglufjörður’s health institution may have allowed E. coli to enter the system, but it has not been confirmed as the source. Sigríður Hjaltadóttir told Trölli there is suspicion that recent roadworks on the street below the health institution allowed E. coli to enter the system. The definitive cause remains unknown.

Background

Siglufjörður is a small fishing town on the northern coast of Iceland, forming part of the Fjallabyggð municipality, which was created in 2006 with the merger of Ólafsfjörður and Siglufjörður.

Topicsdrinking waterE. coliFjallabyggðIcelandic Food and Veterinary AuthoritySiglufjörður