Brixham, Devon, has been hit by a waterborne parasite outbreak, resulting in two people being hospitalised. The Environment Secretary, Steve Barclay, confirmed the situation during an urgent question session in the Commons. South West Water attributes the outbreak to a damaged air valve on private land, leading to the spread of cryptosporidium, a waterborne disease.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed 46 cases of cryptosporidium. However, given the incubation period of up to 10 days for symptoms to emerge, this number may continue to rise.
Conservative MP Anthony Mangnall, representing Totnes, expressed outrage at the situation. He criticised South West Water for allowing residents to drink contaminated water for 24 hours, despite ongoing assurances that there was no problem. Mangnall emphasised that the reported 46 cases likely underestimate the true impact due to the prolonged exposure period.
In the Commons, Labour accused the government of negligence, likening water companies’ actions to “pumping a tidal wave of raw sewage” into the system. However, Mr Barclay attributed the outbreak to farmyard waste and dismissed Labour’s claims as political “knockabout.”
Residents near Hillhead Reservoir, approximately 8,000 people, remain dependent on bottled water and cannot trust their water systems. Mr. Mangnall called for an investigation into South West Water’s handling of the crisis, emphasising the need to address the damaged reputation suffered by local businesses and the Brixham community.
Initially, South West Water declared tap water safe to drink but later reversed its stance. CEO Susan Davy has since apologised for the outbreak, acknowledging that the company fell significantly short in managing the situation.
