South West Water has announced today a significant reduction in the number of customers affected by its boil water notice in the Brixham area following confirmation from water quality monitoring results that there is no presence of cryptosporidium in its Alston supply area.
While properties in the Hillhead, upper parts of Brixham, and Kingswear areas are still subject to the boil water notice, around 14,500 households in the Alston supply area have been given the green light to resume normal tap water usage.
The decision to lift the boil water notice for the majority of Alston residents was made in consultation with the UK Health Security Agency and the local authority’s Environmental Health Department, following a series of tests that found no traces of cryptosporidium in the water supply.
The boil water notice was initially issued on Wednesday, 15 May, affecting approximately 17,000 households and businesses in the Alston and Hillhead water supply areas after cryptosporidium was detected in the Hillhead supply area. This precautionary measure was extended to properties in the Alston supply area as well.
Specialists conducted seven separate tests in the Alston water supply area, all of which returned negative results for cryptosporidium. An additional sample was independently analyzed by a third-party laboratory, further confirming the absence of contamination.
While South West Water continues to advise around 2,500 properties in Hillhead, upper Brixham, and Kingswear to boil their drinking water, progress has been made in identifying a potential cause of contamination. A damaged valve on private land in the Hillhead supply area has been isolated and repaired, with investigations ongoing to rule out any other sources of contamination.
Laura Flowerdew, South West Water’s Chief Customer and Digital Officer, expressed regret over the disruption caused by the incident and reassured affected customers of ongoing efforts to resolve the issue. She emphasized the importance of safety and urged customers to check whether they are still affected by the boil water notice using the postcode tracker on the South West Water website.
Additionally, recognizing the inconvenience faced by customers in the Hillhead, upper Brixham, and Kingswear areas, South West Water announced an additional compensation of £100 to affected customers, bringing the total compensation to £215 per customer. Businesses are also encouraged to reach out to a dedicated helpline for support and assistance regarding compensation claims.
South West Water will continue to provide bottled water stations and deliver bottled water to vulnerable customers and local businesses until the boil water notice is lifted entirely.
Customers are urged to stay updated on the situation and check for updates on the South West Water website.
For more information and to check the status of the boil water notice, customers can visit https:///www.southwestwater.co.uk/household/help-support/in-your-area/service-updates.
