Welsh Water gives all clear after bug scare

Residents in North Wales who have been forced to boil drinking water since an outbreak of stomach illness two months ago have finally been given the all clear by water bosses.


The outbreak of water-borne stomach bug cryptosporidium affected some 70,000 households on the island of Anglesey and the northern county of Gwynedd (see related story).

The Cwellyn reservoir in Snowdonia is believed to be the probable source of the outbreak and new UV light water treatment equipment has been installed at the reservoir’s plant to ensure even low levels of the microscopic parasite are destroyed.

During the outbreak almost 250 people were diagnosed with the bug, which causes stomach upset and diarrhoea but is rarely transferred between individuals.

Welsh Water has accepted no blame for the outbreak but has paid affected customers a £25 sweetener to make up for the expense and inconvenience of having to boil water.

Welsh Water’s managing director Nigel Annett said: “We have worked around the clock to install the new treatment so as to end the inconvenience as soon as possible.

“In the exceptional circumstances of this outbreak we decided to install the new equipment as an added precautionary measure. We are now sure that it is safe to lift the Boil Water Notice.”

While householders will likely have to settle for the £25 the long process of horse trading as businesses make claims for compensation and the water company assess them will now begin.

By Sam Bond

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