Health Ministry Orders Boil-Water Precaution in Shtula

The Health Ministry ordered residents of Shtula to boil tap water before drinking, cooking, preparing medicine or brushing teeth after water samples returned anomalous results. The ministry said residents may continue using the water for bathing and sanitation. The precaution took effect Thursday evening and will remain in force until further notice. The ministry’s initial announcement did not identify the contaminant behind the sampling anomaly. It also gave no timetable for lifting the order, limiting public guidance to the household uses that require boiling and the uses that remain permitted.