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South West Water will now pay out £115 in compensation to households affected after traces of the parasite cryptosporidium were discovered in drinking water.
On Thursday (16 May) the company’s chief customer officer suggested that animal waste may be the source of the contamination.
A total of 22 cases of cryptosporidiosis have so far been confirmed in Brixham in Devon, and Public Health has said up to 100 people had reported symptoms to their GP in the last week.
On Wednesday (15 May) the company confirmed it had found small traces of cryptosporidium in the Hillhead area of its local water network.
Following this, South West issued a boil water notice to around 16,000 households and businesses in the area, advising them not to use their tap water for drinking or washing without boiling and cooling it first.
Customers were initially offered £15 compensation, but this has been subsequently increased by £100 “to say sorry for the stress and worry the situation has caused”.
All affected household customers will receive an automatic payment of £15. For business customers, this payment will be made via the retailer.
For household customers, in addition to the £15 payment, South West is increasing the compensation by £100.
Direct Debit customers will receive £115 direct to their bank account by 21 May. Those who do not have a Direct Debit arrangement will receive £115 credit on their water account, which will show on their next available bill.
Laura Flowerdew, South West Water’s chief customer and digital officer, suggested the source of the contamination was likely to be a damaged air valve.
“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 and therefore are just ensuring we have gone through all the right operational procedures,” she told Sky News.
She further explained that the valve was on a pipe located in a field containing farmer’s cattle and that “there’s a possibility that that is therefore the source of the contamination”.
Drinking water can become contaminated due to various reasons with cryptosporidium, which can cause sickness and diarrhoea if consumed.
The company has set up two bottled water collection points at Broadsands Car Park in Paignton, and Fresh Water Quarry Public Car Park in Brixham, where customers can collect bottled water. It continues to deliver bottled water for those customers that need it.
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