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Urgent warning: Drinking water in Kaufbeuren must be boiled!
Drinking water in Kaufbeuren must be boiled. Bacteria were discovered and the health department issued a boil water order.
Urgent warning: Drinking water in Kaufbeuren must be boiled!
There is currently worrying news for residents in Kaufbeuren: the city's drinking water must be boiled. During a routine check, bacteria were found that exceeded the approved value. Specifically, this is a microbiological contamination with enterococci, the limit value of which is exceeded by five colony-forming units per 100 milliliters. On September 29, 2025, the health department of the Ostallgäu district office issued a boiling water ordinance that applies to the city of Kaufbeuren and the municipalities of Pforzen, Rieden/Zellerberg and Friesenried. This regulation remains in force until further notice.
The Kaufbeuren municipal waterworks has already started taking urgently needed measures. In order to restore drinking water quality, extensive pipe network flushing and disinfection work are underway. Meanwhile, it is essential to boil the water sufficiently before use. It is recommended that the water be brought to a rolling boil for at least ten minutes before using it for drinking, cooking or preparing food and drinks. This also applies to the preparation of food that is not sufficiently heated.
Recommended boiling rules for the population
The boiling water regulation provides clear guidelines to minimize the risks:
- Wasser zum Trinken und für die Zubereitung von Speisen und Getränken muss abgekocht sein.
- Rohes Obst, Gemüse und Salate sollten mit abgekochtem Wasser gewaschen werden.
- Beim Zähneputzen ist ebenfalls darauf zu achten, nur abgekochtes Wasser zu verwenden.
- Baden und Duschen ist mit einem geringen Risiko verbunden, doch das Wasser sollte nicht geschluckt werden.
- Für den gesundheitlichen Schutz in landwirtschaftlichen Betrieben und in der Lebensmittelverarbeitung ist ausschließlich abgekochtes Wasser erlaubt.
Coffee machines, dishwashers and washing machines can still be used as usual, as the boiling water requirement does not apply to these devices. The waterworks has also announced that it will inform households as soon as the quality values are back to normal. Signs are posted at public collection points in the affected communities to make citizens aware of the current situation.
Drinking water quality in Germany
In a broader context, this problem cannot only be observed in Kaufbeuren. In Germany, a large part of the population - 88.6 percent - is supplied with drinking water through water supply areas, although the quality is generally good to very good. Over 99 percent of the microbiological and chemical quality parameters meet the high requirements. However, it is important to be aware of the risks that water contamination can pose and to act with appropriate caution. Consumer protection and high-quality water supplies therefore remain central to public health.
Mercury reports in detail about the current situation in Kaufbeuren, while We are Kaufbeuren provides further details on the boil water regulation and the safety measures. For a comprehensive overview of drinking water quality in Germany, it's worth taking a look Federal Environment Agency, where a lot of data on water quality was collected.