Boiling water restrictions have been lifted for thousands of households in Devon after a water tank was infected with a parasite.
South West Water (SWW) say 14,500 homes in the Brixham area are no longer required to boil their supply after water quality monitoring results found no traces of cryptosporidium – a parasite that causes diarrhoea and sickness.
The water firm is still urging 2,500 properties in Hillhead, upper parts of Brixham and Kingswear to continue boiling water before drinking it.
Cryptosporidium can be caused by drinking or swimming in contaminated water and can be found in the intestines and faeces of infected humans and animals.
Health officials identified 46 confirmed cases of cryptosporidium linked to the outbreak.
More than 100 people in the area reported symptoms after the “absolutely disastrous week” which left locals furious.
SWW said it believes the parasite could have entered supplies through a damaged pipe in a field containing animal faeces.
The firm added that a contaminated tank at Hillhead reservoir was drained overnight and “thoroughly cleaned”.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
SWW chief customer officer Laura Flowerdew said: “Following rigorous testing this week, it is now safe to lift the boil water notice in the Alston water supply area. This decision has been supported by the Government’s public health experts and the local authority’s environmental health department.
“This situation has caused an immense amount of disruption, distress and anxiety. We are truly sorry this has happened.
“The public rightly expect a safe, clean and reliable source of drinking water and on this occasion, we have fallen significantly short of expectations. We will not stop working until this has been fully resolved.”
SWW added that an additional £100 compensation will be paid to affected customers in the areas which continue to be affected.
Residents in Devon picking up clean waterPA
Bottled water will remain available at three stations in the area, having so far provided 386,000 bottles of water to customers.
Conservative MP Anthony Mangnall, whose Totnes constituency includes Brixham said the SWW’s response to the outbreak was “contemptible and just generally incompetent”.
He said: “The illness suffered and inability to access safe drinking water has been totally unacceptable.
“The continued boil water notice for residents relying on the Hillhead reservoir must be accompanied by a further increase in support and compensation from South West Water.
“It is my priority to see this situation resolved as quickly as possible and that those who are suffering from illness receive the support they need.”
Source Agencies
