Boil Tap Water Warning In England After Parasite Found

[RAMROD 117,011]

 

People across south Devon have been advised to boil their tap water as 22 cases of a diarrhoea-type illness have been confirmed.

A further 70 suspected cases are also being investigated.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said the parasite, cryptosporidium, was "predominantly a waterborne disease".

Infections can be caused by drinking contaminated water or swallowing it in swimming pools or streams.

South West Water (SWW) said the Hillhead reservoir and the wider Alston area was being investigated as a potential cause for the outbreak.

Dr Lincoln Sargeant, director of Public Health in Torbay, said about 40,000 people get their tap water from the reservoir.

“In terms of people who have actually been affected we have to date 22 confirmed cases and about 70 to 100 people have contacted their GP with similar symptoms over the last few days.”
 

SWW has urged residents across Brixham, Boohay, Kingswear, Roseland and north-east Paignton to boil their tap water.

Chris Rockey, from SWW, said people should boil water to drink, cook and clean their teeth within the affected areas.

He said the firm would continue to work with "health professionals and monitor the water" and that it had started its investigation after it was contacted by the UKHSA on Monday.

The company said data from tests on Tuesday showed treated water leaving its treatment works was not contaminated, but further tests overnight found small traces of cryptosporidium. 

SWW said it was confident boiled water was safe and had issued the advice as a precaution.

Mr Rockey said he was unable to provide a timeframe for how long residents should continue to boil water.

He said further advice would be issued when the water supply had "returned to normal".

Laura Flowerdew, SWW chief customer officer, said it was a mistake for the company to tell people to keep using the water on Tuesday.

She said: "With the benefit of hindsight and additional sampling we've taken we do realise that now perhaps we should have said something different yesterday.

"However we operated at that point with the best intentions and using the sampling and the water quality monitoring that we had available to us, and we were working with the public health authorities as well."

Ms Flowerdew said SWW was "working as fast as we can to make sure we are supporting customers" and that it would set up two additional water stations.

"We have people working throughout the night to try and understand and find the route cause of the problem - as soon as we've done that we will give further information to customers."

SWW said "small traces of the organism" were identified overnight and on Wednesday morning in the Hillhead section of its network.

It said: "We apologise for the inconvenience caused and will continue to keep customers and businesses updated."

The firm said unboiled water could continue to be used for washing, bathing and toilet flushing.

 

The parasite, also known as crypto, causes an illness or disease called cryptosporidiosis affecting people and some animals, the UKHSA says.

It can be found in the intestines and faeces of infected humans and animals and can contaminate lakes, rivers, swimming pools, untreated or poorly treated water and food.

Symptoms include diarrhoea, stomach pains, nausea or vomiting, low-grade fever and loss of appetite which can last up to two weeks.

The bug is most common in children aged between one and five and also those with weak immune systems.

The UKHSA says most people with healthy immune systems will recover within one month.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd1q1d51w27o

[Guest]

I live in Cornwall that comes under South West water  my flop era

[RAMROD 117,011]

Just now, madmagical6 said:

I live in Cornwall that comes under South West water  my flop era

Stay safe, henny

[Roughhouse Dandy 13,606]

Terrifying

[PartySick 172,478]

37 minutes ago, RAMROD said:

The parasite, also known as crypto

Me, who never bought an NFT

[Ronnie 6,099]

Goodbye, Ozempic! Hello, Crypto! How much weight will I lose?

[bambi96 1,555]

I just spoke to my bestie who works in the industry (not in the SW), and she said this can happen when a dead animal gets into the water supply. Apparently it's a v dangerous parasite so be careful SW peeps <3

[Lucas 31,104]

1 hour ago, PartySick said:

Me, who never bought an NFT

Thank God cuz crypto and NFT are totally different things 

[PartySick 172,478]

12 minutes ago, Lucas said:

Thank God cuz crypto and NFT are totally different things 

Both ways for people to get money without working for it and/or gst screwed out of money they did work for, I don't see a difference

(Not me sounding conservative there get me out of Florida )

[Phoenix Fields 2,714]

[nATAH 56,905]

i could do with losing a few pounds

[Mother of Puppies 36,615]

I need to lose 4kg… England here I come 

[RAMROD 117,011]

1 hour ago, Ronnie said:

Goodbye, Ozempic! Hello, Crypto! How much weight will I lose?

 

3 minutes ago, NATAH said:

i could do with losing a few pounds

 

2 minutes ago, Mother of Puppies said:

I need to lose 4kg… England here I come 

 

Please     

[Economy 52,844]

On 5/15/2024 at 4:24 PM, PartySick said:

Me, who never bought an NFT

Neither have i but i definitely have crypto

[FATCAT 60,888]

On 5/15/2024 at 4:30 PM, bambi96 said:

she said this can happen when a dead animal gets into the water supply

has anyone heard from @Rat Boy recently?!