Europe
Boil water order lifted on post and in towns surrounding Baumholder
Stars and Stripes
August 22, 2024
The U.S. Army's Smith Barracks in Baumholder, Germany, dominates the otherwise rural setting. U.S. Special Operations Command Europe's Green Berets and Navy SEALs are slated to move from Stuttgart to a new home in Baumholder in 2026. (Stars and Stripes)
Both the Army and German officials lifted the order to boil drinking water Thursday, following precautionary measures taken earlier in the week due to contamination concerns.
Water tests for bacteria taken on Smith Barracks on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday indicate that the water on base is safe for human consumption, Baumholder officials said on Facebook about 2 p.m. Thursday.
Residents are advised to flush all faucets in their homes for five minutes prior to drinking to clear any stagnant water.
At about 6 p.m. Thursday, Birkenfeld District, which includes Baumholder and surrounding villages, lifted its order to boil drinking water in 53 of the district’s 96 municipalities.
The order was issued Monday after enterococcus bacteria found in a water treatment at Herrstein-Rhaunen indicated fecal contamination. The boil-water order continued for days as workers tested the water, which is now considered safe to drink.
Birkenfeld District has issued such orders multiple times throughout the years, including in 2022. The Army has had its own struggles with water quality at Baumholder in the past as well, particularly in 2018. But the Garrison is now a high priority for the service amid new units arriving and hundreds of millions of dollars in spending.