Yahoo News Anger and chaos in 'third world' Brixham as people told they won't have tap water for a WEEK
Anger is growing in Brixham as 16,000 people have been told they will be without tap water for at least a week following a parasitic outbreak in the water supply. South West Water (SWW) put the boil notice in place on Wednesday after cryptosporidium - a parasite which causes a diarrhoea-like illness - was found in its supply network in Brixham
Now people in the Alston and Hillhead areas are being told to boil water before drinking it, brushing their teeth, or using it to prepare food.Shop worker Jemma Michaels, 28, said: “It’s absolute chaos in the town, I can’t buy a single bottle of water, people can’t shower or wash their hands.
“It’s like third world conditions here. I think it’s disgusting that we weren’t told about this until yesterday, so many people in the town are ill.
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“This town relies on tourism but restaurants and hotels are having bookings cancelled because people don’t want to come here and get sick, it’s disgraceful.”
SWW have set-up bottled water stations in the affected areas, while vulnerable customers are receiving deliveries of bottled water to their homes. Totnes MP Anthony Mangnall, whose constituency also includes Brixham, said he expected the boil notice to be in place for at least the next six or seven days.
"The boil water notice is therefore likely to be in place for at least a further six or seven days, with bottled water available throughout this period. Vulnerable customers and those on the Priority Services register will continue to receive regular deliveries of bottled water, while those who are unable to access bottled water stations will be able to call SWW to receive a delivery."
But angry locals voiced their anger that this should ever have happened in the first place. One Brixham resident who queued for 15 minutes to collect bottled water said: “I am furious this has happened. Water rates are incredibly expensive and now we are told we can’t even drink it.
“I think the bosses who take such huge salaries should come down here and explain to us how things have gone so wrong.”
Earlier locals claimed an underground reservoir is believed to be the cause of an outbreak. Residents living near the Hillhead Reservoir near Brixham, South Devon say they have been warned by South West Water workers they will have to be switched onto alternative sources of water while the reservoir – which serves around 40,000 homes – is emptied.
Yesterday about a dozen vans from South West Water were lined up outside a pumping station where the outbreak is believed to have been detected earlier this week. One local, James Martins, said: “We have been ill for weeks with vomiting, diarrhoea and headaches.
"We are still feeling bad on and off. My understanding is it will be days or weeks before the reservoir is fully drained and in the meantime we have to boil our water.
“It has not been handled well by South West Water but all the staff we have dealt with have been wonderful, I think it’s higher up the chain where the problems are.”
SWW’s chief customer and digital officer Laura Flowerdew said: “We sincerely apologise for the impact this is having on our customers in the Brixham and Alston areas. Protecting the health of our customers and providing them with a clean, fresh drinking water supply is our number one priority and we will continue to work around the clock to make sure that happens as soon as possible.”
One grandmother has has been hospitalised for two weeks after drinking water containing cryptosporidium, it has been claimed. Elaine Hollier, 80, from Brixham was rushed to hospital by paramedics on Saturday 11 May, after suffering severe dehydration and vomiting.
Medics were initially stumped by her condition until South West Water confirmed an outbreak of the parasite had been found in an underground reservoir which serves their home. Her husband of 60 years Dennis Hollier said: “She was in an absolutely diabolical state.
For four days I was trying to help her but I got so worried I phoned 111. The hospital didn’t know how to treat her because they didn’t know what was infecting her.
“She had severe stomach pains and could hardly talk because she was so dehydrated. As soon as they confirmed there was a bug in the water the doctors said ‘we know how to treat you now’.“
Panicked holidaymakers are also cancelling bookings in Brixham because they are worried about the outbreak of cryptosporidium in the town’s water supply. Hoteliers and guest house bosses have received calls to cancel stays from families fearing the worst after hundreds of people in the town reported symptoms including vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach cramps.
It comes as a further blow to the town’s all important tourist season following a slow start to the summer season thanks to bad weather and the cost-of-living crisis. A manager at the Brookside Guest House in the town said a guest called to cancel yesterday as they had an elderly relative and worried about the impact and knows of at least two hotels that have also had cancellations.
She said: “It’s very frustrating, businesses are just getting back on their feet then something like this happens. It’s knocked people’s confidence about coming down here.
"I have had a lot of people call and message asking if it is safe to come and I have assured them we have all the necessary precautions in place and plenty of bottled water.
“What is frustrating is South West Water saying it isn’t a problem and then suddenly they have found it in the water. It’s not helped people’s confidence and they need to earn people’s trust back.”
At the Casa Nostra Italian restaurant in Brixham, manager Clare said she has also seen bookings plummet as worried holidaymakers choose to stay home: “I was near enough fully booked. We trade three days a week. So many have cancelled. I’ve only got a table of five left.
“I’m sat here dreading the cancellations coming in. Roughly lost a grand, grand a half a night. When you’re getting billed £2k for electricity a month, it’s worrying.
“No one has approached any businesses or said has this affected you. I know it has.
“I am really worried, like I said, we are not a chain, we are not supported by anyone else. There is no support from anyone.
“Just myself, my husband and my son. I am dreading it.
“They’re basically saying because of the water do not wash your hands, do not wash your face. There’s not going to be any free tap water available.
“Our dishes are washed and put through the dishwasher.”
SWW initially said it would pay £15 in compensation to customers but this has been increased by £100, with the amount paid to be kept under review.
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