In Mechernich, a fence at the city’s drinking water reservoir was cut, temporarily cutting off water for 10,000 residents. By Friday morning, the crisis management team declared the situation under control.
In the Rhineland, there is again a suspicion of sabotage. According to a statement from the city of Mechernich on its website early Friday morning, a hole was discovered in the fence surrounding a local drinking water reservoir on Thursday. This reservoir also supplies water to the nearby Bundeswehr (German armed forces) site. The city administration formed a crisis management team, which largely reassured residents on Friday morning. Citizens are now allowed to use the water for showering and washing. However, it should still be boiled before drinking, according to a city spokesperson.
On Thursday evening, the health department of the Euskirchen district had advised the approximately 10,000 affected residents not to drink the tap water or use it for food preparation, showering, or washing clothes. The city’s statement mentioned that these “recommendations” were issued “particularly in light of recent incidents at the Bundeswehr site in Cologne.”
Analytical task force deployed
At the Luftwaffe base in Cologne-Wahn, there was a suspicion of tampering with the base’s internal drinking water system on Wednesday. Abnormal values were detected during ongoing water quality checks. A hole in a fence, through which a person could fit, was also noticed.
In Mechernich, the Analytical Task Force from the Essen Fire Department—a special unit capable of detecting chemical, biological, and nuclear substances—began testing the water on Thursday evening. By Friday morning, preliminary results indicated that contamination with chemical substances or biological agents was “largely ruled out,” according to the crisis team. This has significantly eased the overall situation. Nevertheless, it is still advised to boil the drinking water.
The “Kölner Stadtanzeiger” reported that the cut fence in Mechernich was discovered during increased inspections following the Cologne incident. According to the city of Mechernich, the reservoir is fenced and equipped with an alarm system. After discovering the hole, the reservoir was immediately secured to prevent any water distribution. The crisis team advised residents to stock up on drinking water, leading to long lines at many supermarkets.
