Thames Water exams water samples after individuals report being sick
Thames Water sent samples of water to the lab for testing after dozens of people reported being sick with vomiting and diarrhoea in south-east London.
Residents in Beckenham have complained of being struck down by a nasty stomach bug that has left one woman in hospital in the latest scare over dirty water.
It came after unsafe drinking water led to more than 100 cases of a waterborne disease being reported in Devon.
Cryptosporidium, which can cause symptoms such as diarrhoea and vomiting, was detected in the water supply in the Brixham area ten days ago – with people told to boil and cool their tap water before drinking it.
Thames Water told MailOnline it had collected samples from the Central Sydenham area of London on Tuesday after concerns were raised by customers.
The water company confirmed, however, that no issues with the supply were found in laboratory tests.
Thames Water sent samples of water to the lab for testing after dozens of people reported being sick with vomiting and diarrhoea in south-east London (stock photo)
Thames Water told MailOnline it had collected samples from the Central Sydenham area of London on Tuesday after concerns were raised by customers (stock photo)
Thames Water said: ‘We can confirm there are no failures from the Central Sydenham water zone.
‘Our technicians collected samples from a property in the area on Tuesday 22 May following customers contacting the business.
‘Initial on site testing carried out by our accredited technician did not indicate an aesthetic issue with the water, further samples were also collected for laboratory analysis and results showed no concerns.’
The spokesperson continued: ‘We take the quality of our water extremely seriously – it is the highest quality drinking water in the world – and since 2010 more than 99.95 per cent of tests taken from customers’ taps met the standard required by UK and European legislation.
‘Every year we carry out more than 500,000 tests, taking samples from source to tap.’
Katie Cox, a TV producer who lives in the Beckenham area, told the Guardian: ‘I was unwell two weeks ago with what I thought was a stomach bug.
‘It was a good week before I was able to eat again properly.
‘Since then, the South West Water contamination has come to light and I became concerned that maybe there is something in our water.’
The affected residents also included a four-year-old boy who suffered days of vomiting and sickness.
In Devon, South West Water (SWW) initially claimed that its treatment works were not to blame but was later forced to backtrack – prompting fury from local Tory MP Anthony Mangnall, who said its initial failure to act had been ‘enormously frustrating’.
Cryptosporidium can be found in the intestines and faeces of infected humans and animals.
The parasite can be ingested by swimming in or drinking contaminated water as well as other sources such as contaminated food.
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.
South West Water staff and volunteers distribute water to the public at a water collection point on May 18
People collecting bottled water at Freshwater car park in Brixham on May 17
Cryptosporidium can be found in the intestines and faeces of infected humans and animals
South West Water set up bottled water stops for residents to pick up water if they are unable to boil it at home
South West Water shared this map of the areas affected in South Devon on its website during the crisis
The NHS says most people recover within a month, if not less.
Residents, however, told MailOnline that it was the ‘worst illness’ that they had ever had.
Retiree Kathy Hudson, 67, said on May 15: ‘I have been ill since last week with cramps, diarrhoea, sickness and dizziness. My daughter-in-law has also got ill.
‘I don’t want to know what is in the water I have been drinking but now they are saying not to wash your hands, can you shower? What’s it going to do to you?
‘I have been coming out with terrible eczema in the last couple of weeks which I haven’t in ages.’
Karen Chapman, 65, also said on May 15: ‘I only found out yesterday and I drink squash with tap water all day.
‘I pay a lot of money for water and it’s going up but you can’t even drink it, plus electricity is sky high so it costs to boil the water every time you want to drink it.
‘I have had no water all day because everywhere is sold out of bottles. It reminds me of the panic buying toilet rolls during Covid.’
