Riga to begin water network disinfection: drinking water should be boiled
From 2 to 5 November, Riga's water mains will be chlorinated. Rīgas ūdens advises using boiled water during this period and for 24 hours afterwards.
In Latvia's capital, Riga, a preventive disinfection of the water supply network, known as chlorination, will run from midnight on Monday, 2 November, until 23:59 on Thursday, 5 November. It will be the second and final disinfection of this kind this year. For residents, it means that tap water may differ from what they are used to, so it helps to know the recommendations for drinking it in advance.
How the water may change
While the disinfection is under way, the water may have a stronger smell and taste of chlorine. This is an expected side effect of the process.
What Rīgas ūdens recommends
Rīgas ūdens, the company responsible for Riga's water supply, states that the concentration of chlorine used for disinfection does not pose a health risk. As a precaution, however, it recommends drinking boiled water. This applies both during the disinfection itself and for 24 hours after it ends.
The boiling recommendation therefore covers the entire period from midnight on 2 November to 23:59 on 5 November, plus one more day afterwards. The information does not say that the water would be dangerous during this time, but the company wants residents to take extra care.
