Petäjävesi extends water boil advisory despite clean samples

Petäjävesi in Central Finland has kept its boil-water advisory in place for a week, even after recent tests showed no elevated bacteria levels, as authorities await confirmation from additional samples, Yle reports.

The advisory began on 18 July after high bacterial counts were detected in the municipality’s upper water reservoir. The cause remains unknown.

Resident Raakel Poydial learned of the notice during her family’s confirmation celebration. With her phone on silent, relatives alerted her to avoid serving tap water to guests. Her brother bought bottled water after seeing shelves empty at the store, ensuring coffee could still be made. Guests also brought extra supplies, leaving the family with enough to avoid further purchases.

New test results are expected on Monday. Jyväskylä’s environmental health officials will then decide whether to lift the advisory. The upper reservoir, identified as the source, was taken out of service and maintained immediately after the detection.

Petäjävesi has faced water issues before, including a 2019 crisis that forced residents to halve usage after contamination at the main intake.

Under the current advisory, drinking and cooking water must be boiled for at least five minutes. This includes water for diluting juice or washing vegetables. Tap water remains safe for cleaning, laundry, and flushing. Dishes and cutting boards must be thoroughly dried after washing.