Devon water crisis – live: MP brands South West Water ‘contemptible and incompetent’ as parasite infections rise
An MP has branded a water company “contemptible and incompetent” as the number of people infected with a waterborne parasite in Devon continues to rise.
South West Water (SWW) has been blamed amid fears drinking contaminated tap water is what has led to more than 100 residents falling ill in the area of Brixham, which the company supplies with water.
Anthony Mangnall, the MP for Totnes and South Devon, said on Saturday that the firm’s response to the crisis has “put a lot of people’s health at risk”.
Chief executive of SWW, Susan Davy, was forced to apologise on Friday over the outbreak, saying she was “truly sorry”.
It comes as SWW said 14,500 households can now drink their tap water safely – however, 2,500 properties in Hillhead, upper parts of Brixham, and Kingswear have been advised to continue to boil their water beforehand.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said on Friday that 46 cases of parasite cryptosporidium had been confirmed in Brixham, up from 22 cases on Thursday, while more than 100 people reported symptoms, including diarrhoea, stomach pains and dehydration.
Dr Lincoln Sargeant, Torbay’s director of public health, has warned the number of infections may continue to increase for “up to two weeks” due to delays in symptoms developing.
Key Points
Devon MP calls water company’s reaction to crisis ‘contemptible’ and ‘incompetent’
Damaged air valve ‘potential source leading to parasite in water network’
Infections in Devon water parasite outbreak to keep rising for weeks, public health boss warns
Confirmed cases of parasite outbreak double as more than 100 report symptoms
This is the end of our live coverage
15:10 , Tara Cobham
This is the end of our live coverage. Thank you for following our live blog.
Please visit The Independent’s homepage for all the latest updates.
Watch: Thousands of Brixham residents told they can safely drink tap water again
14:00 , Tara Cobham
Infections in Devon water parasite outbreak to keep rising for weeks, public health boss warns
13:27 , Tara Cobham
The number of people infected with a waterborne disease following a parasite outbreak in south Devon is likely to increase for up to two weeks, a public health boss has warned.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said on Friday that 46 cases of cryptosporidium, a disease that can cause unpleasant symptoms such as diarrhoea and vomiting, had been confirmed in Brixham after people drank water feared to be contaminated with a waterborne parasite.
Around 16,000 households and businesses were told not to use their tap water for drinking without boiling and cooling it first, as more cases are anticipated.
Read more here:
Infections in water parasite outbreak ‘set to keep rising for weeks’
Inside the picturesque harbour town facing a dirty water crisis
12:05 , Tara Cobham
“Beautiful, isn’t it”, calls over a tourist wearing a bright blue “I love Devon” T-shirt. And as I stand in Brixham harbour looking up at the rows of pretty ice cream-colour homes in the warm lunchtime sunshine, it’s hard to disagree.
Since the 19th century, this quintessential harbour town has justifiably become a hotspot for holidaymakers on a stretch of coast in Torbay known affectionately as the English Riviera.
But amidst the chatter inside the fish and chip shops, fudge-makers and pubs, it’s not the upcoming bank holiday, or even the appointment of a new manager at Torquay United that’s the topic of conversation.
Alex Ross reports:
Inside the ‘blacklisted’ picture perfect harbour town facing a dirty water crisis
Local council leader blames SWW for parasite infections and brands its response ‘very poor’
10:26 , Tara Cobham
A local council leader has blamed South West Water (SWW) for the outbreak of parasite infections in Devon and branded its response “very poor”.
Leader of Torbay Council, David Thomas, told The Independent: “It is their (SWW’s) job to provide clean, fresh water to the homes in this area. So I don’t know who else you would be suggesting where the blame should lie.
“I think in the beginning their response was very poor. They said there was no issue – I think at that point hindsight is a wonderful thing, they would’ve been better to say maybe there’s an issue. I think from when they got into full mode to deal with it, the resources that they pulled into this area were huge.”
However, he did add that what has been seen is “a community coming together”.
Himself living in one of the homes that have been affected, he said: “I absolutely understand the anger and upset and huge concern for everybody who’s been involved.”
He said three-quarters of the households impacted can now drink their take water safely, with hopes all will be able to by next weekend.
‘Boil water’ advisory lifted for most residents in Devon, water supplier says
10:00 , Tara Cobham
Thousands of people in Devon can now safely drink their tap water after being told to boil and cool it first, the area’s water supplier announced after a waterborne illness made hundreds sick.
South West Water (SWW) said around 14,500 households in the Alston supply area could use their tap water safely, while 2,500 properties in Hillhead, the upper parts of Brixham and Kingswear still need to boil their supply before drinking it.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said on Friday that 46 cases of cryptosporidium, a disease which can cause symptoms like diarrhoea and vomiting, had been confirmed in Devon, up from 22 reported on Thursday. Around a 100 more people had reported the same symptoms, and cases were expected to rise.
Shahana Yasmin reports:
‘Boil water’ advisory lifted for most residents in Devon
Thousands of Brixham residents told they can safely drink tap water again
09:12 , Tara Cobham
Thousands of Brixham residents told they can safely drink tap water again
New cases could continue to appear for weeks
07:30 , Shahana Yasmin
Paul Hunter, professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia (UEA), told the BBC that the parasite could be in the incubation period for up to two weeks.
“One of the problems when you’re investigating outbreaks like this is that the incubation period can be about 10 days to two weeks, so often in the past when I’ve been involved in investigating outbreaks by the time you know you’ve got a problem, the problem has resolved itself anyway, but you can’t guarantee that,” he said.
“Even if they have stopped all new infections by now, you would expect to see further cases for at least 10 days to two weeks.”
Prime minister Rishi Sunak calls for probe
07:10 , Shahana Yasmin
A spokeswoman from Number 10 has said that the prime minister “understands the stress and worry this has caused residents”.
“He’s very clear that this must be investigated thoroughly by the Drinking Water Inspectorate and UK Health Security Agency.”
“Any water company that’s found to be in breach of rules on drinking water should expect to face the appropriate enforcement action up to and including criminal prosecution.”
The government has announced a quadrupling of inspections and provided increased powers to Ofwat and the Environment Agency to hold water companies to account, the spokeswoman added.
Resident collapses from illness after parasite contamination in Devon water supply
06:50 , Tara Cobham
A man says his wife collapsed after drinking water feared to be contaminated with a parasite.
The UK Health Security Agency said on Friday that 46 cases of cryptosporidiosis, a disease that can cause symptoms including diarrhoea and vomiting, had been confirmed in the town, and hundreds more reported symptoms.
Chaz Attwood told Sky News his wife had been ill for 16 days after drinking the contaminated water.
“My wife has been drinking water to keep hydrated because she’s diabetic and the insulin that she’s had to have has doubled, and basically that affected her to start with,” he said.
“So that’s made her worse. We’re in a dreadful state. She was so weak I even phoned 999, and told the guy what was happening because she’d collapsed.”
Water supplier says damaged air valve ‘potential source leading to parasite in water network’
06:30 , Shahana Yasmin
A damaged air valve on a pipe in a field containing cattle has been identified as a potential source leading to the existence of small traces of parasite in a local water network.
South West Water’s (SWW) chief customer officer, Laura Flowerdew, said it is possible that cattle manure caused the contamination.
“We have identified that there is a damaged air valve on our network just near the Hillhead reservoir but we absolutely want to make sure that that is the only source,” she told Sky News.
Asked if it was animal faeces that infiltrated the network, she said: “We understand that this is a valve on one of the pipes that head towards the Hillhead reservoir, not on the reservoir itself.
“It’s in a farmer’s field and I understand that there are cattle in that field and therefore there’s a possibility that that is therefore the source of the contamination.”
She added that work is still under way to determine the cause of the contamination but that the damaged air valve “does look like it’s a potential source”.
Devon MP calls water company’s reaction to crisis ‘contemptible’ and ‘incompetent’
06:10 , Tara Cobham
Conservative MP Anthony Mangnall, whose Totnes constituency includes Brixham, said SWW’s response to the parasite outbreak in the seaside town had been inadequate.
“The predominant failure is the fact that earlier in the week, South West Water was asked whether or not this was to do with their network and they categorically ruled it out, only for them to change their position 24 hours later, which I think is contemptible and just generally incompetent - and it’s put a lot of people’s health at risk,” he told the PA news agency yesterday.
Mr Mangnall added that SWW had failed to “safeguard public health” and would “be absolutely on the line” to compensate local businesses which have lost money because of the outbreak.
Devon businesses suffer losses due to contaminated water crisis
05:50 , Shahana Yasmin
As the UK Health Security Agency announced there had been 46 confirmed cases, with more than 100 people reporting similar symptoms on Friday afternoon, Keith Johnson, who runs Rio’s Fish & Chips, says he’s had no customers in the first hour-and-a-half of lunchtime opening, reports Alex Ross.
Johnson, who took over after moving from the West Midlands, says the outbreak of an illness caused by the parasite cryptosporidium has rocked the town.
“We’ve been blacklisted,” he says. “No-one is around, it’s so obvious. We usually get coach drops coming in during the week, but we’ve had nothing and the hotels have reported cancellations.
Residents unhappy with water company’s handling of the crisis
05:31 , Shahana Yasmin
People living in the Devon area affected by the waterborne parasite outbreak are dissatisfied with the water company’s response to the situation.
South West Water (SWW) say they have found the source of the parasite and CEO Susan Davy said she was “truly sorry”. The company first announced £115 in compensation to affected customers, which has now been raised to an additional £100.
“It is typical of a corporate company throwing a small amount of money at the situation to try to keep people quiet,” caretaker Bryon Freer, who lives just 800m from the Hillhead reservoir, says.
Anthony Mangnall, MP for Totnes, a constituency which includes Brixham, said he was aware of concerns over the quality of drinking water in the town.
“I am very concerned about SWW’s response to this situation, as they have been slow to act and communication with customers has been very poor,” said Mr Mangnall.
Devon residents told tap water safe to drink without boiling
05:04 , Shahana Yasmin
Thousands of households in Devon can safely drink their tap water without boiling it first, the area’s water supplier South West Water (SWW) announced after a parasite outbreak led to hundreds falling ill.
About 14,500 households in the Alston supply have been told they can drink their water safely, while 2,500 properties in Hillhead, the upper parts of Brixham and Kingswear still have to follow the advisory to boil their water before drinking.
The water supplier said that a “rigorous testing” of the water along with a consultation with the UK Health Security Agency and local authority’s environmental health department led to the decision yesterday.
SWW has also added that an additional £100 compensation, on top of the £115 that was announced earlier, would be paid to affected customers.
Close to 16,000 households and businesses in the region were told earlier this week not to use their tap water for drinking without boiling and cooling it first.
04:40 , Rituparna Chatterjee
Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of Devon’s water parasite outbreak.
