Yahoo News Cryptosporidium outbreak: South West Water boss apologises and admits failings
The CEO of South West Water has said she is "sorry" about an outbreak of cryptosporidium and admitted the company has "fallen significantly short" of expectations, as potentially hundreds of Brixham residents have been struck down with painful symptoms. The water company confirmed on Wednesday (May 15) that "small traces" of the parasitic organism had been found in water samples across the Hillhead and Alston areas of the town.
At last count, 22 cases of illness had been confirmed in Brixham with "most" of those affected living in the town. The cause of the outbreak has not yet been made public by South West Water, though Totnes MP Anthony Mangnall, writing on social media, said a damaged air valve 'may have allowed animal waste or contaminated groundwater to enter the local supply'.
Hundreds of residents in Brixham are said to be suffering sickness and diarrhoea, symptoms of cryptosporidiosis, the illness contracted after ingesting cryptosporidium. South West Water (SWW) CEO Susan Davy has said technicians have been working "around the clock" to find the source of the contamination and fix it so the water supply can return to normal.
Read more on the cryptosporidium outbreak here:
The company announced on Wednesday morning that cryptosporidium had been found in the Hillhead area of Brixham, less than 24 hours after saying water in the area was safe to drink, following previous negative tests. Ms Davy explained: "Recent tests showed that water leaving our treatment works was clear. However, in the early hours of Wednesday morning, we detected small traces of cryptosporidium in the Hillhead area of Brixham. Working with the UK Health Security Agency, we moved quickly to issue a boil water notice to affected customers and businesses."
The boil water notice is still in place across parts of Brixham and residents are urged not to drink or consume any water unless it had first been boiled and allowed to cool. SWW says it is also handing out bottled water to the 16,000 homes, businesses and schools affected by the notice.
Ms Davy also confirmed that SWW will be paying out £115 in compensation to households affected by the boil water notice, a significant increase from the £15 initially promised. The payment is expected to be made by May 21. She added that she is "truly sorry" for the disruption and anxiety caused by the outbreak.
"While incidents like these are thankfully very rare, our customers expect a safe, clean, and reliable source of drinking water. I know on this occasion we have fallen significantly short of what you expect of us," Ms Davy wrote. "All of us at South West Water live and work in the region, just like you. It is our home and a place we love. I am sorry this has happened.
"I promise you that we will not stop working until the situation has been resolved and drinking water returns to the quality level you expect."
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said in an update that South West Water believes it has located the source of the contamination but investigations are continuing and the boil water notice remains in place. Customers are advised not to consume untreated tap water - this includes not drinking, cooking, preparing food or brushing teeth with tap water for the time being. Normal tap water may be used for washing, bathing and toilet flushing.
A Defra spokesperson said: “We are receiving regular updates South West Water, who are working with the Drinking Water Inspectorate and UK Health Security Agency, to identify the source of the contamination. We need South West Water to resolve this issue and ensure clean water returns to the Brixham area as soon as possible.
“We will also be working with the local authority, MPs and other partners locally to ensure the local community is supported during this time. We can assure residents that boiled water is safe and we ask them to continue to follow the boiling measures as advised.”
South West Water CEO Susan Davy's statement in full
Dear Customer,
I wanted to provide an update on what’s happening in Brixham, south Devon.
Your health and safety is our first and foremost priority. That’s why, on Wednesday 15 May, we advised those in the affected area to boil their drinking water before consuming it, following test results indicating the presence of cryptosporidium at Hillhead.
Recent tests showed that water leaving our treatment works was clear. However, in the early hours of Wednesday morning, we detected small traces of cryptosporidium in the Hillhead area of Brixham. Working with the UK Health Security Agency, we moved quickly to issue a boil water notice to affected customers and businesses.
Since then, our ground technicians have been working around the clock to identify the source of the contamination and rectify the situation so we can resume a normal water supply. While we urgently find and fix the problem, we have been delivering bottled water to vulnerable customers and to local businesses, including schools. We have also made bottled water available to residents in the local area.
I understand the significant impact the boil water notice has had on daily life. In recognition of this burden, our compensation payment will be increased to £115. This payment will be made automatically, where we have direct debit details, or applied as a credit to your next water bill, where we do not. You do not need to take any action.
To those in the affected area and our customers across the South West, I am truly sorry for the disruption and wider anxiety this has caused. While incidents like these are thankfully very rare, our customers expect a safe, clean, and reliable source of drinking water. I know on this occasion we have fallen significantly short of what you expect of us.
We will be providing updates, including on our website homepage and ‘In Your Area’ section, with additional information on Facebook. Our team is also available to answer your questions.
All of us at South West Water live and work in the region, just like you. It is our home and a place we love. I am sorry this has happened.
I promise you that we will not stop working until the situation has been resolved and drinking water returns to the quality level you expect.
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