Firm hopes to lift tap water ban
Updated on 04 July 2008
A water company is hoping to lift a ban on drinking tap water for the majority of people affected by a contamination crisis.
Anglian Water said it hoped to tell 75% of affected customers in Northamptonshire that they could safely drink tap water. The remaining people might be able do the same by the end of next week, it said.
Around 250,000 people were warned to boil their tap water last week after tests showed it was contaminated with cryptosporidium. The microscopic parasite can cause severe stomach upsets, especially in young or elderly people.
The announcement led to schools being closed, supermarkets running out of bottled water, and warnings that the crisis could last for weeks.
The company isolated the contamination to the Pitsford Water Treatment Works, and treated it with ultraviolet light.
Speaking on Thursday, an Anglian Water spokeswoman said: "The flushing and cleaning programme continued overnight and our tests are showing that water quality is clearing rapidly.
"The boil notice is in place until you get the green all-clear card. We are optimistic that the remaining customers will have their boil notices lifted by the end of next week."
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary Hilary Benn praised agencies for working "extremely well" during the crisis.
In a ministerial statement, he said: "I am pleased to report that all relevant agencies appear to have worked extremely well together to respond to this notification."
Mr Benn's statement, published on the Defra website, added: "The clear advice I have received from the Chief Inspector of Drinking Water is that there is no contamination of the water supply. However, a precautionary 'Boil Water Notice' has been in place since June 25 as a result of a notified increase in risk reported by Anglian Water to the Drinking Water Inspectorate."
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