Stomach bug found in water supply

Published: Wednesday, 25 June 2008, 9:44AM

People in parts of Northamptonshire have been told to boil drinking water after traces of cryptosporidium were found in the supply.

The stomach bug was found in the supply for Northampton, Daventry and surrounding villages.

The contamination affects Pitsford Reservoir, north of Northampton, and any tap water supplied from the reservoir could be affected.

An Anglian Water spokesman said: "We do about one thousand samples every day just testing on water quality and last night we had traces of cryptosporidium.

"It's a naturally occurring bacteria but if it gets into the human body it can cause quite severe stomach upsets. It's something we do not take any risks with whatsoever.

"When the second test came back confirming it we immediately let everybody know. We have asked 108,000 properties, equivalent to 250,000 customers, to boil their water. If they boil it, it eliminates the bacteria."

Anglian Water will only provide bottled water for vulnerable people on their WaterCare register.

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