Warning Issued Over Water Bug

Traces of a sickness bug have been found in tap water in the Northampton and Daventry areas.

Anglican Water have issued a warning to residents living in the south of the country to boil their water before using it.

Tests found cryptosporidium in a sample of water - a parasite which causes stomach upsets and diarrhoea.

Anglican Water said in a statement: "Only once drinking water has been boiled and allowed to cool should it be used for drinking, preparing food or cleaning teeth. This advice also applies to pets."

It is estimated that around 108,000 households, or about 258,000 people, across 85 communities in the north of Northamptonshire are affected by the contamination.

Schools in the area which do not have enough bottled water may be forced to close.

Details of which schools are closing can be found on the Northampton County Council website.

The areas affected include Colllingtree, Brixworth, Walgrave, Harpole and Everdon.

It is reported that Anglican Water vans equipped with loudspeakers have been sent out to warn people about the problem.

The water provider said that tap waster remains "quite safe" for washing, bathing and toilet flushing.

Customers in the affected areas have been advised to listen to regular updates which will be given through local media and the Anglican Water website.

Alternative water supplies are currently being investigated and bottled water is being delivered to special needs customers on Anglican's 'Watercare' register as soon as possible.

The company has apologised for the inconvenience but has stressed that "the health and safety" of its customers come first.

Analysts spotted the infected water during routine tests, the alarm was raised when one of the tests failed a cleanliness check.

Anglican Water is working with local authorities and Health Protection Unit to provide advice. It is based in the east of England serves around six million industrial, commercial and domestic customers.

Cryptosporidiosis is a diarrhoeal disease of humans and animals, caused by a microscopic parasite called Cryptosporidium.

The organism is common in farm and domestic animals and is passed on through their manure.

It is present in the environment at low levels all the time, but higher levels are common in springtime, particularly when heavy rain washes the parasite into the ground and into rivers and lakes.

(DS)