“It was time”. It is the phrase of the day among the residents of the Zaragoza towns of Tarazona and Torrellas (about 11,000 inhabitants between them) after learning that, after almost two months of restrictions, they can finally drink water again from their supply networks after confirm that there is no longer the presence of the protozoan that caused an outbreak of gastroenteritis and that the rest of the drinkability levels are normalized.
“The results are already favorable in terms of the physical, chemical and biological parameters that are analyzed,” confirmed this Thursday the Minister of Health, José Luis Bancalero, who still recommended the most vulnerable population – immunosuppressed people, children under six years and older people – do not consume tap water yet.
The alarm bell arose at the beginning of September, when an outbreak of gastroenteritis was recorded that affected dozens of people in a few days until there were half a thousand affected. In subsequent analyses, the presence of oocysts of the protozoan ‘Cryptosporidium’, undetectable in routine control analyses, was detected.
For their part, the supply networks of the neighboring towns of Los Fayos and Novallas are also free of the presence of ‘Cryptospodirum’, but the water in their towns is still not suitable for consumption. In Los Fayos, chlorine regulation is pending and in Novallas not all bacteriological parameters are yet suitable. However, the forecast is that they will return to normal “in a short time”, according to the Government of Aragon.
The first infections were detected on September 9 and 10 in Tarazona and, in just two days, there were 200 patients, the vast majority with mild diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever. It was then that the town council prohibited the use of tap water, the only element in common among all those affected, for drinking, cooking or brushing teeth, restrictions that were later extended to the other three neighboring towns.
Subsequent studies carried out by the Health Department of the Aragonese Government in different segments of the riverbed confirmed that the microorganism causing the infections was already present in the neighboring province of Soria, where the river originates. A fish farm located in the Soria municipality of Vozmediano was even identified as a probable source, although the company’s analyzes later confirmed that its trout were free of the protozoan.
In this sense, the Aragonese counselor acknowledged that “a more exhaustive analysis” still needs to be done to know the exact origin of the outbreak, since as of today there is still no “localized focus.” Even so, he assured that the theory that currently has the most points is that the outbreak was a consequence of the “torrential waters” that fell in the previous days, since his department has not detected that there was an outbreak by any municipality. or business activity.
As a medium and long-term solution, ultraviolet light systems will be installed in the water treatment plants of the four municipalities, an action that will cost around 370,000 euros. It is expected that the technological materials will arrive next week and that these systems can begin to function during the second half of November.
The construction of a new catchment at the head of the Queiles River is also being considered, where the presence of this parasite has not been detected, with a 7.2 kilometer pipeline that would require a much greater investment.
Meanwhile, the end of the restrictions has been received with joy by locals. During these eight weeks, those affected have had to resort to purchasing bottled water and distributing the thousands of liters distributed by the authorities, a “nuisance” to which all the neighbors wanted to say goodbye. “Let’s hope it doesn’t happen again,” said one of the neighbors.