Jerusalem lifts water warning across city

Jerusalem lifted a boil warning for the whole city Friday afternoon, saying water throughout the capital was now safe to use and drink.

The warning, in place since Wednesday afternoon due to the possibility of contamination, had applied to the Old City, Baka, Abu Tor, Talpiot, Zur Baher, Silwan, Ras al-Amud, Mamilla and Morasha.

On Thursday, the city said water in all neighborhoods but Abu Tor, south of the Old City, was safe for use.

“A check carried out by the Gihon Water Company and the Health Ministry found that the water quality is now clear in all city neighborhoods, including Abu Tor,” the municipality said in a message posted to its website.

Gihon and the Health Ministry had performed tests on the water Wednesday afternoon after it had been discovered that treated wastewater had leaked into the drinking water system, and later discovered that it had been a significant leak.

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The municipality set up several stations in these areas for water pickup, and encouraged residents to bring their own bottles to the sites. Parents had been instructed to send their children to school with a bottle of water Thursday morning.