The Lukiškės Square fountain is contaminated with faecal microorganisms.



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The municipality itself organized a water laboratory test and submitted the test results for safety evaluation at the request of the NVSC. Studies have shown that the concentration of intestinal rods (E. coli) in the source water is 140 colony forming units (CFU) / 100 ml of water, and the concentration of intestinal enterococci is 91 CFU / 100 ml of water. As no other important microorganisms were found, the Vilnius Department of NVSC began an extensive study on Friday on the water quality of the sources installed in Vilnius.

Since faecal microorganisms were found in the water from the Lukiškės source, NVSC specialists assume that the water from this source is not properly maintained. The Vilnius Department of NVSC recommended immediate dismantling of the source at Lukiškės Square and action to remove microbiological contamination from the source water: clean and disinfect the entire filtration system, reservoir and other tanks, water jets, then test the source water with hoses (E. coli) for the detection of staphylococci (Staphylococcus aureus), green pseudomonas (Pseudomonas aeruginosa), legionella (Legionella spp.), lambblia cysts (Giardia spp.), cryptosporidium cysts ( Cryptosporidium spp.), Helminth eggs, coliform bacteria

Vilnius Municipality presents the fountain installed in Lukiškės Square as an interactive fountain. Such fountains are also called wet playgrounds, filled with children playing on hot summer days. The Vilnius Department of NVSC is concerned that equipment of this type that is not properly maintained may pose a risk to public health, since water spray generates aerosols that can be inhaled, which can lead to legionellosis. Microorganisms can enter the circulating water system from the environment or from human bodies and multiply at dangerous concentrations, after which the contaminated water is re-sprayed into the environment.

The NVSC report notes that there are registered outbreaks of infectious diseases (legionellosis, gastroenteritis, cryptosporidiosis, dengue fever) associated with interactive sources worldwide. The cause of all these outbreaks was the inadequate management of water from the sources.

The Vilnius Department of the NVSC requested the Vilnius City Municipality before August 5. present the design documentation for the installation of the fountain installed in Lukiškės Square, the technological description of the maintenance of the fountain’s water, indicating the chemicals used for water maintenance, attaching their safety data sheets. After becoming familiar with the information provided and evaluating it, the Vilnius Department of the NVSC will provide recommendations on the safe operation of the source.

The Vilnius Department of NVSC recommends that residents exercise caution at this time and await further recommendations on the safe use of the font.

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