Water parasites contained 'but sickness may go on'
A public health boss says he is confident a parasite outbreak in the water has been contained, but warned people might still fall ill for up to two weeks.
Dr Lincoln Sergeant, Torbay's director of public health, said the initial cryptosporidium outbreak in Brixham had been "more or less dealt with" by people being boiling tap water and bottled water handed out.
Brixham's local MP Anthony Mangnall said SWW's response to the outbreak had been "contemptible and just generally incompetent".
South West Water (SWW) estimated about 16,000 homes and businesses had been affected.
Dr Sergeant said SWW was now ensuring further contamination did not happen, but people might continue to develop symptoms for the next 10 days to a fortnight because of the nature of the illness.
SWW said it had identified a damaged valve on private land as the possible cause of the contamination. It said the faulty valve had since been isolated from the network and repaired, and the company was continuing to investigate.
It said people were advised to continue boiling their water and added bottled water collection points had been set up in three car parks at Fresh Water Quarry and Broadsands, as well as in the Churston car boot sale field.
Members of the public, as well as MP Mr Mangnall, have heavily criticised SWW's handling of the outbreak, with many telling the BBC they felt communication had been poor.
Speaking to BBC R4's Today programme, Dr Sergeant said the parasite was "unpleasant but self-limiting" for anyone infected.
He said: "It's important for the listeners to recognise that in terms of the initial contamination, that is more or less dealt with by the boil water notice and the bottled water.
"We know that South West Water is now actively doing work to flush through the system to make sure that ongoing contamination does not occur."
'Numbers may increase'
On Friday, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said 46 cases of cryptosporidium had been confirmed and more than 100 other people were reporting symptoms.
Dr Sergeant said: "It's important to recognise that people may continue to develop symptoms from that initial contamination up to 10 days - some people even up to two weeks.
"So the numbers may increase, but that doesn't necessarily mean that the situation is getting worse."
People were no longer being asked to come forward for testing, Dr Sergeant added.
'Response deeply problematic'
Mr Mangnall, the Conservative MP for Totnes - which also covers Brixham, said anger around the town was "palpable".
He said SWW had initially denied the issue was anything to do with the company, and even advised people the tap water was safe to drink on Tuesday.
The following day, SWW bosses reversed their advice and urged people to boil their water before using it.
Mr Mangnall said: "The predominant failure is the fact that earlier in the week, South West Water was asked whether or not this was to do with their network and they categorically ruled it out, only for them to change their position 24 hours later, which I think is contemptible and just generally incompetent – and it’s put a lot of people’s health at risk.
"That, to me, is one of the most serious indictments because they were made aware of this by a large number of people, including myself who raised this with them, and so to not actually respond in a manner that would safeguard public health, I think is deeply problematic."
'Worst ailment of my life'
Some residents in Brixham said the parasite had led to them being taken to hospital.
Kayley Lewis said her 13-year-old son was taken to A&E after blood was found in his vomit, meanwhile she said she had lost 8lbs in weight (3.6kg) in six days after becoming unwell.
Another resident, Bryon Freer, said developing symptoms from the parasite was the "worst ailment" he has had in his adult life.
Mr Freer said: "It put me in bed for five days and I'm someone who very rarely gets colds."
Ian Lomas, a resident rom Higher Brixham said the outbreak and the way SWW had managed it had had a "terrible" impact on his family.
He said most of his relatives had been severely ill following the outbreak, including his three-year-old granddaughter.
Mr Lomas, 65, said: "South West Water were far too slow in admitting responsibility and the communication has been poor."
Cecilia Forde, who has a compromised immune system because of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), said she had to call SWW to get someone to deliver bottled water to her.
She said the whole situation had left her feeling "worried".
"I was unable to make a cup of tea and to be honest, I got a bit worried because my immune system's a bit impaired with the ME and CFS."
A SWW spokesperson said the company was sorry for the impact the outbreak was having and the firm was working with UKHSA and other public health officials to investigate the source of the contamination.
On Saturday, David Harris, drought and resilience director at South West Water, said the water tank at Hillhead reservoir, where tests confirmed the presence of cryptosporidium earlier this week, had been drained.
He added it would be thoroughly cleaned on Saturday.
Mr Harris said: "Once complete, we will start refilling the water tank later today.
"Officials from the Drinking Water Inspectorate are also on site to monitor progress, and daily testing continues to take place at points throughout our network."
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