People have had explosive diarrhoea because they have been drinking cow manure
An outbreak of a diarrhea-causing parasite in south Devon’s water supply has been caused cow manure leaking into the system.
South West Water believes parasitic bug cryptosporidium, which causes severe stomach issues, entered the underground reservoir through a damaged air valve in a cattle field.
Confirmed cases have almost doubled over the last two days, with 46 found people contaminated and another 100 reporting symptoms.
Around 40,000 households living on the south coast of Devon urged to boil their tap water before drinking it.
Laura Flowerdew, SWW’s chief customer officer, told Sky News: ‘We have identified that there is a damaged air valve on our network just near the Hillhead reservoir.
‘We absolutely want to make sure that that is the only source and therefore are just ensuring that we’ve gone through all the right operational procedures.’
Asked if it was animal faeces that infiltrated the network, she told the broadcaster: ‘We understand that this is a valve on one of the pipes that head towards the Hillhead reservoir, not on the reservoir itself.
‘It’s in a farmer’s field and I understand that there are cattle in that field and therefore there’s a possibility that that is therefore the source of the contamination.’
One primary school was even forced to close over fears students would develop symptoms, which include profuse diarrhoea, stomach pains, vomiting, and fever.
Grandmother Elaine Hollier, 80, from Brixham, was taken to hospital on Saturday after suffering symptoms for two weeks.
Her husband Dennis said he thought they had fallen ill with food poisoning – but now believes they ingested the parasite via the contaminated water.
He said he was urged to stay away from hospital while doctors tried to figure out why Elaine was so ill.
It is not known when the boil notice is expected to be lifted.
Ms Flowerdew said: ‘We are working hard to be able to give more decisive information about that timeline.’
So far, 22 cases of the illness have been confirmed, but more are anticipated to follow.
Community Facebook page Brixham Fish Town has been inundated with posts and comments from residents saying they have come down with symptoms. Reports of people becoming poorly in Paignton have also started to emerge.
Tanya Matthews, who lives in Ocean View, claims every home in her street has come down with the same symptoms.
She said: ‘I started having stomach cramps and explosive diarrhoea nine days ago and it has been the same every day since.
‘South West Water asked if I had been in the sea or a river but I have not. I also think the water tastes funny and it has been leaving a horrid taste in my mouth.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.