Bacteria detected in tap water

Authorities have announced that tap water should not be used for drinking or cooking until the results return to normal. Following the statement, residents living in the city center headed to fountains located in the center and neighborhoods to meet their drinking water needs. Citizens who arrived at Mongok Fountain with their vehicles carried the water they filled into containers to their homes.

In a statement made by the Muş Provincial Health Directorate, it was noted that comprehensive examinations of the drinking water were carried out following allegations that appeared in the public eye and on social media platforms in recent days, stating, "Following the allegations regarding our city's drinking water that have come to the agenda in some press outlets and social media channels in recent days, the necessary examinations and evaluations have been carried out by our Directorate. In this context, samples taken from different points of the Muş central drinking water system were sent to authorized laboratories and analyzed. As a result of the analyses, it was determined that some parameters were above the limit values specified in the legislation.

The data obtained has been shared with the Muş Municipality, the institution responsible for the drinking water infrastructure; necessary information and warnings have been provided. It has been requested that the identification of the source of the non-compliance, as well as maintenance, repair, and technical improvement processes, be carried out immediately by the municipality. The process is being closely monitored by our Directorate, and monitoring and inspection activities are continuing.

Until the non-compliances regarding the drinking water are resolved, in order to protect the health of our citizens, tap water should not be used directly for drinking, food preparation, and purposes requiring oral contact until the analysis results return to normal; in mandatory cases, it should be used after being boiled for at least 10 minutes and then cooled. It is strongly recommended that unboiled tap water not be used for processes requiring direct oral contact, such as brushing teeth," the statement said.

Abdulaziz Yalçın, who came to get water from the fountain, stated that they would meet their water needs in this way until a new and positive statement comes from the authorities, saying, "We are currently in a difficult situation. We came to get water from Mongok Fountain. According to the statement made by the Provincial Health Directorate, high levels of bacteria were detected in the tap water. For this reason, we cannot consume the tap water. We are forced to perform ablution with tap water. I hope our prayers are accepted. Until the Health Directorate makes a new statement saying 'The water is clean, you can consume it,' we will continue to take this water in containers and carry it to our homes. No statement has been made by the Mayor's Office so far. We are acting by taking the warnings of the Health Directorate into account," he said.

Stating that they reported the situation to the authorities due to the bad odor coming from the tap water in their homes and workplaces, Burhan Sayılgan said, "We smelled a bad odor from the tap water in our homes and workplaces. We reported the situation to the authorities for this problem to be resolved. As a result of the examinations, the reports from the Ministry of Health and the Muş Provincial Health Directorate revealed that bacteria were detected in the water. It was also stated that samples were sent to Ankara for a second analysis and the results are awaited. We are currently using purification devices in our homes and workplaces. Because it is not possible to cope with this water without purification. We think the water is dangerous; we are worried because it is not known what the virus inside is or where its source comes from. We are not blaming anyone for this, but we expect the authorities to produce a solution as soon as possible. Our people are in a difficult situation," he said.