After a week without drinking water in 13 localities in Prahova, the Public Health Directorate confirms that the water treated at the Voila station complies with potability parameters. The next step: checking the samples from the distribution network, which has been emptied and refilled in recent days.
The water from the Voila station is declared safe for consumption PHOTO: Archive
The Prahova County Council announced on Sunday that the Public Health Directorate has completed the microbiological analyzes for the water treated at the ESZ Voila station, before it is reintroduced into the distribution system managed by Hidro Prahova.
“The Prahova Public Health Directorate has completed the microbiological analyzes carried out at the ESZ Voila treatment plant, before the water is introduced into the distribution system operated by Hidro Prahova. The results comply with the values provided by OG no. 7/2023 and HG no. 971/2024, which means that the water treated in this station is potable”the County Council sent, according to News.ro.
The analyzes covered all mandatory microbiological parameters: coliform bacteria, E. coli, intestinal enterococci, colony counts at 22°C and 37°C, as well as Clostridium perfringens, given that the source is a reservoir. The tests were carried out according to the SR EN ISO 9308-1 standard, which establishes laboratory procedures and sample reading intervals.
CJ Prahova representatives emphasized that water can only be declared potable if all these determinations fall within the legal limits.
Analysis from the distribution network follows
Although the water leaving the Voila station is compliant, the distribution system must be analyzed separately, after Hidro Prahova will announce that the network has been fully optimized.
“Following the checks, DSP Prahova confirmed that the water that left the Voila station meets the necessary parameters for human consumption. After Hidro Prahova will announce that the system is optimized, the DSP teams will also take samples from the distribution system operated by Hidro Prahova. These analyzes are essential, because the network was emptied for several days, and the pipes went through processes of refilling, washing, chlorination and repairing some damages that occurred during In such situations there are additional risks, and the checks must be carried out after the complete stabilization of the system“, stated the institution.
Network microbiological analyzes take 72 hours from the time the samples are inoculated in the laboratory, with intermediate readings at 24 and 48-50 hours, and the final result is validated after 72 hours.
CJ Prahova emphasized that only after the completion of this process can the water from the distribution be declared officially potable.
A week without drinking water for over 107,000 people
The critical situation was generated by the emptying of the Paltinu dam for unclogging works, combined with the torrential rains of two weeks ago, which raised the turbidity of the water above the limits allowed for treatment. For this reason, more than 107,000 inhabitants of 13 Prahov localities and a town in Dâmbovița county were left without drinking water for a week.
