Britons in parts of South West England could be eligible for compensation after a waterborne parasite was detected in local water systems.
Residents in the Alston and Hillhead areas of Brixham have been urged to boil their drinking water following the detection of cryptosporidium.
Households impacted by the contamination will be compensated with £15, South West Water has confirmed.
The water provider announced on its website: “We are issuing this as a precaution following small traces of the organism identified overnight and this morning.
Residents areas of Brixham have been urged to boil their drinking water
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“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.”
Doctor Lincoln Sargeant, Torbay’s Director of Public Health, said: “We’re working with SWW and the UK Health Security Agency, NHS Devon and the Environment Agency to investigate 22 confirmed cases of cryptosporidium.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cryptosporidium is a microscopic parasite that causes the diarrheal disease cryptosporidiosis.
More to follow…