On 24 September 2026, Středočeské vodárny announced that water from the Odolena Voda reservoir could not be used for drinking because samples showed above-limit concentrations of lead [2][3]. The reservoir supplies Hoštice, Husinec, Klíčany, Klecany, Máslovice, Odolena Voda, Postřižín, Řež, Sedlec, Větrušice, Vodochody and Zdiby, an area with more than twenty thousand inhabitants [2].*

Measured values

Under the decree, the hygienic limit for lead in drinking water is ten micrograms per litre [3]. On Thursday, two of twelve samples from the water network exceeded the limit, containing 29.5 and 24.4 micrograms of lead per litre [1][3]. In the Řepínský důl catchment area, the waterworks found above-limit lead in 16 of 36 inspected wells and shut down 14 of them; in four wells the concentration exceeded 100 micrograms per litre [1]. The shortfall is replaced by water from the adjacent well field [1].

On Saturday 26 September, a sample from the upper reservoir in Odolena Voda contained 41.1 micrograms of lead per litre and the waterworks shut down one chamber of the reservoir [1]. Two other Saturday samples from the same place already met the limit [1]. On the same day all published results from the area met the limit, the highest value being 7.1 micrograms per litre, but the water remained undrinkable [1].

Measures

The restriction has applied since Thursday and covers 5,133 supply points in twelve municipalities [1]. The water can be used without restriction for personal hygiene and cleaning [2]. The waterworks arranged substitute supply by tankers, with priority for schools, kindergartens and health facilities [2]; on Saturday they had 35 tankers with a volume of 88 cubic metres in place [1]. Hygienists said the limit takes into account chronic exposure to lead and that, in the case of accidental drinking or short-term consumption of water with a concentration of around 30 micrograms per litre or lower, they do not expect a negative health impact [1].

Cause

Because of the contamination, the waterworks filed a criminal complaint against an unknown offender and turned to the Czech Environmental Inspectorate [1]. One possible source, according to them, is the nearby former landfill Kasova Rokle [1]. They do not yet know the cause of the Saturday value in the upper reservoir; a spokesperson for the waterworks said it may have been related to sediment in the tank [1]. Checks were to continue on Monday [1].

Related articles: Odolena Voda

Chronology

  • — Středočeské vodárny declared the water from the Odolena Voda reservoir drinkable again; the restriction over above-limit lead content, which affected twelve municipalities, had been in force since 24 September. iROZHLAS Pražský deník
  • — Water from the Odolena Voda reservoir was declared unfit to drink because of excessive lead; around 20,000 people were left without drinking water. ČTK / České noviny ČT24

Pages linking here

Sources

  1. ČTK / České noviny — 26 September 2026
  2. ČT24 — 24 September 2026
  3. Seznam Zprávy — 24 September 2026
  4. iROZHLAS
  5. Pražský deník
  6. Ekolist.cz