DEWA 'not responsible' for Legionnaires' scare at Dubai school

The German International School was closed temporarily after a water contamination scare

The German International School in Academic City has been temporarily closed due to a possible outbreak of Legionnaire's disease. Reem Mohammed / The National

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority has said that it is not responsible for any water contamination at The German International School following a Legionnaires' scare earlier this week. 
The German International School was closed on Sunday following fears of water contamination, but reopened on Tuesday.

DEWA took samples from the part of the water network they are responsible for and found it was not contaminated. The results were sent to the school.
"DEWA's responsibility is to provide safe and healthy water up to the metre. It is the responsibility of the customer or owner and the maintenance companies to carry out the regular maintenance of the internal networks and water tanks after the metre and to ensure that health and safety standards are met," read the official statement from DEWA.
DEWA said the potable water they supply is compliant with international potable water standards and World Health Organisation guidelines for drinking water quality.

According to a statement issued on the school's behalf by the German Consulate, the school closed as a precautionary measure.

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Dubai school closed after water contamination scare

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Yesterday, Dubai Municipality said there was no report of Legionnaires' disease bacteria at the school.
Redha Salman, director of the Health and Safety Department at Dubai Municipality, said: "There is no Legionnaires' disease at any school. According to the German School, they decided to conduct a cleanup and maintenance of the tanks and piping in the school."

Legionnaires' disease is a rare form of pneumonia caused when someone breathes in air that contains legionella bacteria in droplets of water. It does not spread from person to person but is contracted through contaminated water.