June 14th 2024.
The recent outbreak of a parasite in a Devon town has caused major concerns for the safety of the water supply. It has been over a month since the contamination was first confirmed, and the town of Brixham is still facing the effects. South West Water, the company responsible for the water supply, has lifted boil water notices for 21 customers so far, but there are still over 2,000 households without clean water.
Luckily, tests have shown that those served by the Hillhead to Boohay main no longer need to boil their water before using it. This is a relief for those customers, as they can now return to their normal water usage habits. However, the remaining households in the wider Hillhead, upper Brixham, and Kingswear areas are still advised to boil their water before consumption. These areas are served by a separate system that is currently being flushed and cleaned.
The good news is that the levels of the parasite, known as cryptosporidium, are decreasing in the contaminated area. The boil water notices were first issued on May 15, when South West Water discovered small traces of the organism in Alston and Hillhead. Interestingly, the day before this announcement, the water company had stated that all water supply tests had come back clear and customers were advised to continue using their water as normal. This caused confusion for many, especially since hundreds of people were already experiencing symptoms of illness.
It has since been determined that the cause of the outbreak was a damaged air valve on private land. The UK Health Security Agency has reported 100 cases of cryptosporidium in the affected area. In an effort to rectify the situation, South West Water has been diligently cleaning their water supply tanks and implementing additional protective measures, such as UV and microfilters.
Although progress is being made, there are still households in the Hillhead, Upper Brixham, and Kingswear areas that are without clean water. South West Water has been in direct communication with these customers, informing them that their water supply is now safe to use after extensive cleansing of the network. The decision to lift boil water notices for 21 more customers was made based on the advice of water quality scientists, as well as collaboration with public health professionals and the local authority's Environmental Health department.
South West Water has also assured customers that water quality monitoring will continue for the foreseeable future. Laura Flowerdew, the company's chief customer and digital officer, expressed her gratitude for the patience of customers, visitors, and local businesses during this difficult time. She also reassured everyone that South West Water is doing everything in their power to resolve the issue and prevent future outbreaks. Customers and businesses who are no longer under a boil water notice will be contacted directly by the company. In the meantime, bottled water will continue to be delivered to all affected households until the issue is fully resolved.
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