.Published: Sunday, May 19, 2020
Brixham harbour, Devon, on Friday, May 17, 2024. Residents near a picturesque fishing village in southwest England, where a parasite found in the water caused more than 45 people to become ill, were informed Saturday, May 18, that the water was safe for them to drink again. South West Water lifted the boil notice on most of the affected homes and businesses in the Brixham, Devon area after cryptosporidium was discovered. Cryptosporidium is a microscopically small parasite that can cause diarrhea. Credit: Piers Mulcklejohn/PA via AP
Residents living in the vicinity of a picturesque fishing village in southwest England, where a parasite found in the water had sickened over 45 people, were informed Saturday that the water was safe to drink again.
South West Water lifted the boil notice on most of the affected homes and businesses in the Brixham, Devon area after Cryptosporidium was detected. This is a microscopically small parasite which causes diarrhea.
The U.K. Health Security Agency reported that at least 46 cases of Cryptosporidiosis had been confirmed, and more than 100 people had also reported similar symptoms. The symptoms can last for more than two months.
After rigorous testing, the water was found to be safe in most areas. The company said that it had consulted with the public health department before lifting the boil-water warning.
This situation has caused a great deal of distress, anxiety and disruption. Laura Flowerdew, spokesperson for the water company, said that they were truly sorry. The public has a right to expect reliable, safe and clean drinking water. We have failed to meet this expectation on several occasions.
The outbreak that was announced on Wednesday is not related to Britain’s ongoing water problems, but rather a sign of an old system in distress.
People gather bottled water in Broadsands Car Park, Paignton, England on Friday, May 17, 2024. Residents near a picturesque fishing village in southwest England, where a parasite found in the water caused more than 45 illnesses, were informed Saturday, May 18, that the water was safe to drink again. South West Water lifted the boil notice on most of the affected homes and businesses in the Brixham, Devon area after cryptosporidium was discovered. Cryptosporidium is a microscopically small parasite that can cause diarrhea. Credit: Ben Birchall/PA via AP
Since more than a month, water companies have faced criticism for dumping sewage into rivers and the oceans. This has literally made a stink and sickened swimmers. It also polluted fisheries and sparked public outrage.
Environment Agency: South West Water faces charges at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court for 30 violations of environmental permits or illegal discharges between 2015 and 2020.
Flowerdew said on Friday that the outbreak could have been caused by a damaged valve in a pipeline that runs near a reservoir through a field that cows graze.
A primary school in the United States was forced to shut down Thursday due to a lack of clean drinking water. The water company reported that it had provided 386,000 bottles of water to its customers.
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After a parasite outbreak in 2024, the majority of water in an English village is safe to drink.
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