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How South West Water turned certainly one of UK’s worst water companies

South West Water is considered one of the UK’s worst water firms following a string of problems with the company. 

Residents in the seaside town of Brixham have today been urged to boil their tap water due to a suspected outbreak of cryptosporidium, which can be caught by drinking contaminated water. 

Symptoms include profuse watery diarrhoea, stomach pains, nausea or vomiting, low-grade fever and loss of appetite, and usually last between one to two weeks.

South West Water admitted finding ‘small traces’ of cryptosporidium in the water overnight and this morning – marking the latest in a string of issues to hit the company after hundreds of locals complained of feeling unwell. 

The water company spilled for 530,737 hours last year after 58,249 overflow incidents, it was revealed in March. This is an average of 390 hours per storm overflow and 43 per site. 

Have YOU fallen ill with cryptosporidium? Email [email protected] 

A local woman points to a 'river' of raw sewage in Totnes, Devon which is not far from Exmouth

A local woman points to a ‘river’ of raw sewage in Totnes, Devon which is not far from Exmouth

A local surfer posted to social media showing dirty brown water pouring out over the sand

A local surfer posted to social media showing dirty brown water pouring out over the sand

Total hours water companies in England leaked sewage into rivers, lakes and the sea in 2023 shown by the areas they cover

Total hours water companies in England leaked sewage into rivers, lakes and the sea in 2023 shown by the areas they cover

Meanwhile, it was recently revealed one woman is suing South West Water over sewage discharged into the sea which she claims have harmed her health and stopped her daily swims.

Jo Bateman, 62, initially stopped paying the sewage portion of her water bill in protest at the spills into the sea at Exmouth beach in Devon before she decided to take more extreme action. 

She has since submitted an action to the Small Claims Court for ‘loss of amenity’ as she alleges illegal spills means she has lost access to the sea at her local beach.

Her fight was dubbed the ‘next Post Office scandal’ and she has hoped a win could open the floodgates for other swimmers to make a claim – forcing water companies into action over sewage. 

Before New Year’s Eve, a sewer burst in Exmouth, Exeter, resulting in 240 tanker-loads of sewage being driven from the town in East Devon each day by South West Water as the burst pipes were repaired. 

South West Water reportedly now has 35 sewage tankers, a rise of more than half compared to nine years ago. 

Jo Bateman, 62, is suing South West Water over sewage discharged into the sea

Jo Bateman, 62, is suing South West Water over sewage discharged into the sea

A South West Water jeep which is used by workers to repair waterworks

A South West Water jeep which is used by workers to repair waterworks

Heavy rain led to sewage and run-off being discharged into the sea on Boxing Day

Heavy rain led to sewage and run-off being discharged into the sea on Boxing Day 

On Boxing Day 2023, footage showed filthy water flooding onto a popular Cornish beach – just hours after locals enjoyed a festive swim there.

People were urged not to go into the sea as a pollution warning was in place at the beauty spot – but South West Water said it was not sewage but was run-off from agricultural land. 

South West Water is owned by the Pennon Group, a British water utility company based in Exeter, England. 

Today, the number of confirmed cases of cryptosporidium in the Brixham area has risen to 22.

Ms Henderson, of Brixham, told MailOnlne she has been suffering from ‘clear diarrhoea’ for the past week.

‘Last week I had such bad diarrhoea it was crazy,’ she said. 

‘My diarrhoea was completely clear – it was just clear water.

‘When you have diarrhoea you get dehydration. So I was drinking more water to stay hydrated, so I was obviously feeding the illness more.’ 

She added: ‘I never thought it would be in the water.

‘We have the most foul smell when you drive into Brixham.

‘As tourists are driving in the first thing they’re greeted with is the most foul, disgusting smell.’ 

The UK Health Security Agency said six more cases had been confirmed yesterday (WEDY) – but many more are expected over the next few days as more testing is carried out.

Hundreds of people are thought to have been affected in recent weeks and local social media is full of people suffering from symptoms.

The outbreak has caused diarrhoea, stomach pains, dehydration, fever and weight loss and can last for two to three weeks.

Young children aged between one and five are the worst affected age group but health chief say most healthy people will fully recover.

Residents in the seaside town of Brixham (pictured) have today been urged to boil their tap water due to a suspected outbreak of cryptosporidium

Residents in the seaside town of Brixham (pictured) have today been urged to boil their tap water due to a suspected outbreak of cryptosporidium

Cryptosporidium can be found in the intestines and faeces of infected humans and animals

Cryptosporidium can be found in the intestines and faeces of infected humans and animals

Affected pupils should stay off school for 48 hours and people should avoid swimming pools for two weeks after the last episode of illness.

A South West Water spokesperson said ‘protective action’ should be taken for all water use.

A statement from the supplier said: ‘Customers in Alston and the Hillhead area of Brixham are advised to boil their drinking water before consuming following new test results for cryptosporidium. 

‘We are issuing this as a precaution following small traces of the organism identified overnight and this morning. We are working with public health partners to urgently investigate the source.

‘We apologise for the inconvenience caused and will continue to keep customers and businesses updated. Bottled water stations will be set up in the affected areas as soon as possible.

‘For those customers registered for Priority Services we will be delivering bottled water to your address. For all customers who have been issued with the Boil Water Notice you will receive an automatic payment of £15, as part of our Customer Promise when services are interrupted.’