Several thousands of residents are estimated to have fallen ill with severe stomach ailments following human error at the Nokia Waste Water Treatment Plant. More people contain to seek medical treatment after drinking the contaminated water. Salmonella bacteria has been detected in the latest samples taken from patients, says the National Public Health Institute. The authorities are distributing drinking water with tank trucks and disinfecting the water supply in an effort to restore normalcy. Police have been called in to investigate the incident. Health inspectors and the city's water authority convened a meeting on the situation at one o'clock Sunday afternoon, and issued an advisory on water usage afterwards. Chaotic Water Distribution Director of the Nokia Water Plant, Juha Menonen said that disinfection of the pipes is ongoing and that water may be used if it is first boiled for at least five minutes. Treated Waste Water Contaminated Drinking Water Nokia Mayor Markku Rahikkala told YLE that as far as he understood the situation, human error was responsible for the current situation. There's no precise information as to when the situation will return to normal. However Rahikkala said that although the water quality is improving continuously, it could still take several days before it's safe for drinking. The epidemic of stomach infections started on Wednesday, when treated waste water from the Nokia Sewage Treatment Plant somehow made its way into the drinking water system via an open valve. The error was not noticed until Friday, when residents began suffering from violent symptoms. The valve was closed at about mid-day on Friday, after which water at the plant was treated with disinfectants such as chlorine. The State Provincial Office of Western Office has called in the police to investigate the incident. More information in Finnish from the Nokia City website. YLE
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