Brixham residents warned to boil tap water after cryptosporidium detected

Residents are being advised not to drink tap water without first boiling it in the Alston and Hillhead areas of Brixham after testing carried out by South West Water (SWW) confirmed the presence of cryptosporidium. Cryptosporidium is a parasite which can cause sickness and diarrhoea and an outbreak has been confirmed in the coastal town.

Yesterday SWW stated that all its water supply tests had come back clear and that customers should continue to use their water as normal. Today, May 15, it announced it has detected 'small traces' of the organism in Alston and the Hillhead area of Brixham.

Drinking water can become contaminated for various reasons and SWW says it is fully investigating the cause. Bottled water stations have been set up for residents living in affected areas. Yesterday, May 14, the UK Health Security Agency confirmed 16 cases of the infection and around 70 reported cases of diarrhoea and vomiting in Brixham, with more cases reported on social media and not just contained within the Brixham area.

Read next:

• Cryptosporidium confirmed in water supply in two Brixham areas - live updates

• Brixham outbreak: Cryptosporidium confirmed as illness sweeps town

SWW has said its data from its tests over the last several weeks showed that the treated water leaving its treatment works was not contaminated. However, in the Hillhead section of its network, further tests taken overnight and working with the advice of UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), it has found small traces of cryptosporidium.

Advice issued by SWW to residents in Alston and the Hillhead:

• We ask that customers informed of the notice do not drink tap water without first boiling it and allowing it to cool.

• This should also be done for preparing or cooking food or cleaning teeth. Boiled water can be stored in a covered container in the fridge for 24 hours.

• Water can continue to be used as normal for washing, bathing and toilet flushing.

• If people have consumed the water and feel unwell, we advise they contact their GP

• Boil water notices will be hand-delivered to affected customers and the postcodes impacted by the notice are listed on our website.

A South West Water spokesperson said: “Customers in Alston and the Hillhead area of Brixham are advised to boil their drinking water before consuming following new test results for cryptosporidium. We are issuing this notice following small traces of the organism identified overnight and this morning.

"We are working with the UK Health Security Agency and other public health partners to urgently investigate and eliminate the source. We apologise for the inconvenience caused and will continue to keep customers and businesses updated. Bottled water stations will be set up in the affected areas as soon as possible.”

The UKHAS confirmed yesterday that it is working with Torbay Council, South West Water, NHS Devon and the Environment Agency to investigate the cause.

Sarah Bird, consultant in health protection at UKHSA South West stated at the time: "We would like to reassure the public that we are working closely with partners to investigate the possible source of infection and put control measures in place. Further possible cases are under investigation and more cases are anticipated.

"At this stage, a source has not been identified, and more information will be shared as soon as it is available. For most people, cryptosporidium symptoms can be managed at home without medical advice.

"Symptoms include watery diarrhoea, stomach pains, dehydration, weight loss and fever, which can last for two to three weeks. Anyone can get cryptosporidiosis, but it is most common in young children aged between one and five years and most healthy people will recover fully.

"Anyone with a diarrhoeal illness should drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration and if they have severe symptoms like bloody diarrhoea, they should contact NHS 111 or their GP surgery. Please stay off school and work for 48 hours since the last episode of illness and away from swimming pools for 14 days after the last episode of illness."