Devon’s water crisis could last for 10 days after hundreds have fallen ill with vomiting and diarrhoea amid a parasite outbreak in contaminated taps.
Following the discovery of a cryptosporidium infection that has sickened hundreds of people, a school has been forced to close and people are purchasing water in stores out of terror.
Following hundreds of cases of diarrhoea, vomiting, and stomach aches, South West Water (SWW) advised residents yesterday to boil their tap water.
About 40,000 people get their water supply from the Hillhead Reservoir, which is being looked at as a possible source of the epidemic, according to the water company.
Cryptosporidium is a parasitic infection that causes severe gastrointestinal problems, and it is thought to be connected to the mysterious disease.
Bottled water stations were put up to supply locals with clean, safe water to take home. Locals in Brixham, Boohay, Kingswear, Roseland, and north-east Paignton in Devon were advised to boil water as a precaution, especially when drinking it or using it to cook with and brush teeth.
Eden Park Primary School in Brixham told parents last night they would not be opening after they claimed South West Water did not supply them with bottled water.
The water board initially claimed its treatment works were not to blame but has since backtracked – prompting fury from local Tory MP Anthony Mangnall, who said its initial failure to act had been ‘enormously frustrating’.
Locals who believe they have been struck down by the parasite, which can be eradicated by boiling water, have told of severe stomach cramps, dehydration, high fevers and ‘explosive diarrhoea’ that have crippled them and their families.
The intestines and excrement of both diseased people and animals contain Cryptosporidium. The parasite can be consumed by contaminated food, water, or other sources. It can also be acquired by swimming in or drinking polluted water.
It can lead to the disease cryptosporidiosis, which is believed to be affecting many people in Brixham, and causes fever, a loss of appetite, diarrhoea and vomiting. The NHS says most people recover within a month, if not less.
The parasite-caused illness has been linked to 22 confirmed cases in Brixham, and another 70 are being looked at.
Eden Park Primary School in Brixham announced that it would not be opening to pupils following the outbreak.
The statement read: ‘Eden Park Primary School were only informed this afternoon that the school was in an area where the tap water should be boiled.
‘The school have taken swift action to put safety plans in place and contact the appropriate authorities about providing safe drinking water.
‘At the time of writing this update (7.30pm), and despite repeated calls to South West Water about the urgency of the situation, the school has not received any bottled water or assurances of when water will be delivered. To enable parents and carers to make childcare plans for the morning, leaders have made the difficult decision to close the school tomorrow, Thursday 16th May.
‘All Year 6 children should attend the school as usual to complete their final SATs paper in the morning. They should bring their own full water bottle and be collected at 11:15am. The school will also provide bottled water for children and staff in school tomorrow. No other children should attend the school.
‘A further update will be provided tomorrow afternoon, regarding the opening the school on Friday 17th May. Thank you for understanding with this rapidly changing situation.’
Lewis, Izzy, and Lisa Kelly, three locals, have been dealing with the agonising effects of cryptosporidium for almost two weeks.
We give millions in overseas aid to provide clean water for people and yet allow companies not fit for the task to provide ours, and at such an exorbitant cost. Now households need to spend more on boiling water and buying bottled water, which should be handed out free. This whole infrastructure needs to come under government control, and the people pouring untreated sewage into our waterways and seas need to be locked up.
We also pay millions for health care, but we can never get a doctors appointment, or have to wait on waiting lists for years for operations. We pay millions on defending Ukrainian borders and forcing out invaders, but ours are open and undefended and our invaders are housed in hotels and given health care. The British people don’t have any rights, we only dream of them!
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 