Bosau is planning a new job: taps at risk of legionella!

Bosau is planning a new job: taps at risk of legionella!

There is currently an urgent need for action in the municipality of Bosau, in the picturesque Ostholstein district. Today, on July 16, 2025, those responsible realize that the regular flushing of the taps in 20 buildings cannot be placed on the shoulders of just one building yard employee. Mayor Jens Ahrendt (CDU) makes it clear that this system is not sustainable in the long term. The community has a total of 530 taps, which, according to the drinking water regulations, must be flushed every 72 hours for at least three minutes in order to counteract the formation of legionella in the water pipes. The obligation to flush is not just a bureaucratic act, but essential for the quality of drinking water and therefore for the health of citizens.

The Drinking Water Ordinance (TrinkwV) is a crucial basis that ensures that water is harmless to people's health. According to the [RKI](https://www.rki.de/DE/Themen/Infectious Diseases/Infectious Diseases-A-Z/L/Legionellose/OEGD/Hygiene-Trinkwasserinstallationen.html), it also regulates the testing of water samples for Legionella, especially in public use, where annual testing is required. At this point it becomes clear why Bosau is not only concerned with additional workers, but also with ensuring high drinking water quality.

The need for an additional construction site

The current situation in Bosau is forcing the community council to consider creating another position in the building yard. The new employee should not only be responsible for looking after the taps, but also carry out other construction yard tasks. This measure could take the pressure off existing employees and at the same time ensure that the drinking water regulations are consistently adhered to.

The legal requirements are clear: operators of drinking water installations that require testing must not only carry out regular checks, but also alert the health department if the technical measure value of 100 colony-forming units (CFU) per 100 ml is exceeded. These values ​​are a crucial indicator of possible health risks. Viewed this way, compliance with the obligation to flush is not just a mandatory exercise, but an essential element of health protection.

Hygiene and drinking water safety in focus

The Drinking Water Ordinance contributes to ensuring and monitoring the quality of drinking water, which is of enormous importance for the health of the population. The responsibility for the quality of drinking water lies with the federal states and their authorities, but the communities, like those in Bosau, have the primary obligation to implement these requirements.

In summary, Bosau is facing a clear challenge that not only affects compliance with legal requirements, but also responsibility towards its citizens. The proposal to create an additional construction site could be the right step to ensure drinking water quality and minimize the risk of health risks from legionella. How will the local council decide? What is clear is that citizens are at stake and there is a need for action.