Life on Devon street where half of homeowners are sick from contaminated water

17 May 2024 , 13:07

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Residents of Raddicombe Close in Hillhead say they first complained of issues with their water two weeks ago

Residents of a street where half the homeowners are sick from contaminated water had complained about the problems two weeks ago, it is reported.

Concerned locals in south Devon have said they contacted South West Water to tell them that their tapwater had become foul-smelling and was making people ill - but were repeatedly told it was safe to drink.

Then, this week, the water company issued an urgent warning to people in Brixham, Boohay, Kingswear, Roseland, and northeast Paignton to tell them to boil their water after the diarrhea-causing parasite cryptosporidium was detected in the water supply at Hill Head reservoir. It is thought a leaky air valve is responsible, and may have allowed animal waste to enter the water,

A total of 22 cases of the infection are currently confirmed, but this is likely to rise, with over 100 people approaching their GP with symptoms in the past few days. Schools in the area have also been closed after they were left with no drinking water.

Bottled water is being given out in south Devon after a diarrhea-causing parasite left over a hundred people ill (PA)

Describing how she and neighbours on Raddicombe Close in Hillhead have been hit by the bug, Janet Merritt, 67, told the MailOnline: "Most people up here have been ill. I thought it was just me but we have a Facebook group and everybody was saying the tap water doesn't taste right. I became unwell and developed severe stomach cramps, diarrhoea was terrible, I poured myself a drink of water from the tap and it had a strange aftertaste so I said to my husband I'm going to let SWW know and contact my GP." She said that when she first contacted the company, she got an email back saying they had tested the water and it was "safe".

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Cryptosporidium was detected in the water supply at Hill Head reservoir (PA)

Earlier today, the boss of the water firm said she is 'truly sorry' for the cryptosporidium outbreak. South West Water CEO Susan Davy, who took home a salary of £543,000 for the 2022/23 financial year, said in a new statement: "To those in the affected area and our customers across the South west, I am truly sorry for the disruption and wider anxiety this has caused. While incidents like these are thankfully very rare, our customers expect a safe, clean and reliable source of drinking water. I know on this occasion we have fallen significantly short of what you expect of us."

Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas