Water in Walichnowy
Residents of Walichnowy, in the Sokolniki commune, are concerned about their health due to persistent water problems. The commune has already announced a solution to this sensitive issue, but everything is dragging on. The sanitary inspectorate is reassuring people and ensuring they are keeping an eye on the situation.
Unfortunately, the water in Walichnowy doesn't resemble a clear liquid. Residents often encounter such sights in their homes. Today, we visited one of the residents. Monika Karbowska showed us what her family's daily life is like. "The water problem really started two years ago. As I recall, the first notice about the water being contaminated with coliform bacteria was issued before Christmas. Later, these notices appeared infrequently, disappearing occasionally, and then appearing to say the water was safe to drink. And so the problem keeps recurring, but now, for a year, I feel like the water problem is constant."
Residents are investing in filters that quickly change color. Unfortunately, they're afraid to drink tap water, so they often buy bottled water. According to our interviewees, the municipality also releases notices about deteriorating water quality with a delay. "You have to wait a month for any information about whether the notice is still in effect, whether the water is safe to drink or not, so I don't know how older people who don't have Facebook or the internet cope, or how they find out about this water."
Do you drink this water? We ask outside the store. "No. I buy it and drink it, and I also do laundry."
"The day before yesterday, the water was yellow from the tap, and it's still a problem because there's bacteria in it. It's gone for a while, and then it's back again."
The latest announcement from the Sanitary Inspectorate, issued on October 17th, states that during the inspection of corrective actions scheduled for October 15th, a microbiological parameter was found to be exceeded. Therefore, water was supplied from the Rysie Water Treatment Plant, where the water is conditionally suitable for consumption after boiling.
"I must emphasize here that elevated levels of manganese and other substances that cause water turbidity do not pose any health risks, so we can drink this water, of course after boiling it," says Karolina Krawczyk-Borowiec, State District Sanitary Inspector in Wieruszów. "Notices are regularly posted on our website, and the municipality is also responsible for posting these notifications, so I want to reassure you that this is being constantly monitored."
Residents didn't want to wait any longer, so they even contacted the Chief Sanitary Inspector with their concerns.
Here are photos from residents, and maybe even a comparison of what tap water looks like," explained Councilor Sylwia Świdurska. "I'll also show you what the filters look like after a week. Some residents have their own filters."
Representatives of the Sokolniki Municipal Office declined to comment extensively on the matter on camera. However, we received some assurances.
"The Sokolniki Municipality has taken corrective measures, including replacing the filters in the bed that purifies the water," explained Deputy Mayor Bartosz Górka. "We've now initiated the procurement process. The contractor formally has until the end of December, but we hope that in November the filters will be installed, which will begin purifying the water in Walichnowy, and the water will return to its desired levels.
Then residents will have much more peace of mind."