Like the entire Swiss plateau, Yverdon-les-Bains finds the presence of chlorothalonil in drinking water in standards that exceed the federal regulations for the metabolite R 471811. The distributed water remains consumable. Corrective measures are being taken.
Chlorothalonil is an active substance that has been in use since the 1970s. This fungicide has been banned since1 January 2020. After three measurement campaigns carried out between April and May 2020, the controls, carried out by the City of Yverdon-les-Bains, indicate the following levels:
- 40% of the distributed water from the Cossaux spring belonging to the city had a content close to the standard of 0.1 microgram per litre maximum allowed by the Confederation, for the metabolite R 471811, the other metabolites being below the standards.
- 60% of the distributed water from various sources had an average content of 0.250 to 0.352 micrograms per litre for the metabolite R 471811, with the other metabolites being below standard.
Is the water drinkable?
Yes, the water distributed in Yverdon-les-Bains is drinkable. According to the Federal Office for Food Safety and Veterinary Affairs (FOSV), the water distributed is still drinkable, although the safety of these metabolites has not been demonstrated to the present state of knowledge. The requirements for drinking water in Switzerland are very high. The Swiss standards are more restrictive than the European standards.
Should we drink bottled water?
According to the Federal Office for Food Safety and Veterinary Affairs (FOSV), the water distributed via the network is still drinkable, as the possible long-term effects represent a lesser and unproven danger compared to the risks that the replacement of drinking water with bottled drinks in the diet of the people of Yverdon could entail.
Can we cook with water from Yverdon?
Yes, cooking with water from Yverdon-les-Bains is possible.
Is it safe to drink water?
The answer to this question has not been demonstrated in the state of the studies carried out.
What measures does the City take to ensure water quality?
The City conducts year-round analyses of the quality of the water it distributes. Minor sources with above-standard levels were deactivated immediately. For the major sources, studies are being launched to purify the water through the combination of different techniques such as activated carbon, ultra-filtration and the osmosis process. The City services are in permanent contact with the competent cantonal services to also find ways of diluting the water by connecting the Yverdon-les-Bains network to other non-impacted water networks.
More technical information on chlorothalonil by water professionals: click here
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