Water company sentenced for supplying water unfit for humans after parasitic outbreak

South West Water Ltd has been fined almost £2 million for supplying water unfit for human consumption after a parasitic outbreak in Devon.The company was prosecuted after the water supply in the Brixham area of Devon was contaminated by cryptosporidium, a parasite which causes sickness and diarrhoea.Exeter Magistrates’ Court heard how hundreds people reported becoming unwell, including children, with some requiring hospital treatment.During the outbreak, there were 143 confirmed cases, with 126 identified as the strain of cryptosporidiosis specific to the Brixham strain.More than 16,000 homes in the area were issued with boil notices, where water must be boiled then cooled before being consumed, which were not lifted for some properties for 54 days.The water supply is believed to have become contaminated on two sites at a farm in Devon, where samples tested positive for the parasite.South West Water, which was prosecuted by the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), offered those affected an “unreserved apology” and said it wanted to publicly record its “genuine remorse” for the incident.District Judge Stuart Smith fined the company – which previously pleaded guilty to an offence under s70(1) of the Water Industry Act 1991 – £1.853m, with a surcharge of £2,000 and costs of £75,000 – totalling £1.930m.Joe Millington, representing the DWI, said the UK Health Security Agency was first made aware of five cases of cryptosporidiosis by Torbay Hospital on May 10 2024.Tests confirmed the parasite was present in water supplied to households and businesses in the area on May 15.Boil notices were initially issued to 16,221 properties, with a population of 38,930 people, but were reduced on May 18 when testing narrowed the location of the contamination.On July 8, the notices were fully lifted – with residents of the final 674 properties affected told they were safe to drink tap water.Mr Millington said customers reported more than 500 cases of cryptosporidiosis, with symptoms including diarrhoea, continue reading...