Other rumours spread that authorities were asking people to stop drinking from the tap. Alarm reached such levels that hospitals and public health bodies were inundated with calls, while the water authority in Paris put out a public message on social media at the weekend reassuring Parisians that "drinking water poses no threat". Like many rumours spread on the internet or messaging apps, the story contained a kernel of truth that was distorted or deliberately manipulated to raise alarm. The public water provider in the Paris region, SEDIF, told AFP that the average of its readings showed a level of 9 Becquerels per litre. "The current situation does not require any particular attention," Bonnet, who is head of public health at IRSN, told AFP.

Source: The Local July 23, 2019 10:30 UTC