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At the moment, you should not drink tap water in the Utrecht region, including in buildings of Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ. A bacterium has been detected that can cause illness. It is also unsafe to drink coffee or tea from vending machines.

During the night from Friday to Saturday, the water company Vitens discovered bacteria in a drinking water reservoir. As a result, the advice is not to drink tap water unless it has been boiled for at least three minutes. . Vitens does not yet know how long this advice will remain in place, but it will be in effect until at least Wednesday morning. Vitens expects to be able to share more information by Tuesday 4 November at the latest.

What does this mean for Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ?

• Do not drink water from the tap.
• Bring sufficient (boiled) water with you when you come to work or study at the university. It is not possible to boil water at the university.
• Make sure you bring food with you, as it is unclear whether canteens will be open.
• The coffee machines in all buildings are temporarily closed. We also ask you not to use kettles. So bring coffee and tea from home.
• Classes and exams will continue as usual.
• It is possible to wash your hands.

The bacterium found in the water is one that naturally occurs in the human intestines (enterococci). It is not dangerous for healthy people, but for individuals with vulnerable health or a weakened immune system, it can have unpleasant effects, such as infections.