Tap water is prohibited for children under four years old in Saint-André de Sangonis in Hérault. The town has been distributing bottled water for several days. Residents are worried and the city is looking for solutions.
Parents are worried about their children in Saint-André de Sangonis, about thirty kilometers east of Montpellier. Until the age of four, they are prohibited from drinking tap water. In question, the presence of manganese. “I’ve been buying bottled water for two yearsconfides a resident. I no longer drink tap water at all. And indeed, the day we decided to switch to bottled water, my daughter was no longer sick.”
“As a precautionary principle, and in accordance with the recommendations of the ARS, we are renewing our recommendation for children under the age of four not to consume tap water until the situation is restored”indicates the upper service of the Hérault valley on his website.
To address concerns, a public meeting was organized without being able to provide reassurance. The inhabitants of the Hérault commune prefer bottled water as a precaution. “I deliver a lot of water since a priori, the water is not drinkableexplains a trader. In any case, for children from zero to four years old. For the others yes… But I don’t know, little question mark.”
A petition launched by a group of residents denounces a lack of information. Where does this manganese come from? Everyone is asking the question, especially since the phenomenon is not recent and at high doses, it could cause neurological and behavioral effects.
Singled out, the water tower and its renovation work have since been exonerated. The preferred avenue is drought and the very low level of the water table from which the water is captured. The city wanted to believe in a passing phenomenon. The ban dictated by the regional health agency disrupted its schedule.
“We are going to purge the tank and the water towerannounces the mayor, Jean-Pierre Gabaudan. I think the purge will bring quite a bit of harm. We will filter as soon as we are able to have a company capable of providing us with the equipment.” The solution is to install a water filtration unit hoping to block the manganese. In the meantime, bottles are distributed to nurseries and kindergartens.
#Tap #water #banned #children #parents #worried #excess #manganese
