WATER UPDATE: One week on and still no all-clear for Lancashire’s water supply

SCIENTISTS are still not able give water supplies the all-clear in large parts of Lancashire more than a week on from the cryptosporidium alarm being raised.
SOURCE: Franklaw Treatment Plant near GarstangSOURCE: Franklaw Treatment Plant near Garstang
SOURCE: Franklaw Treatment Plant near Garstang

A summit meeting between Public Health England, the Drinking Water Inspectorate and United Utilities late yesterday decided the advice to boil should continue for the time being.

After the meeting a statement from United Utilities said: “The situation continues to improve each day, with traces of cryptosporidium reducing throughout the 2,500 miles of pipework in the affected area.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We will not be in a position to lift the boil water notice until we are confident that supplies across the affected area are back to their usual extremely high standards.

“We are continuing to liaise closely with the Drinking Water Inspectorate and Public Health England and meeting with them regularly to review the very latest test results.

“We cannot take any risks with public health and, in consultation with the other organisations, we will agree when we can lift the advice to boil your water. This will only be done when we can be absolutely certain there are no longer any traces of cryptosporidium in the water. We know how inconvenient this situation is and we thank you for your support and patience whilst we work around the clock to get back to normal.”

More than 300,000 households and businesses have been affected after traces of the parasite being found in samples at the Franklaw Treatment Plant at Garstang last Thursday. All are to be compensated.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

For all our previous coverage on the water contamination situation in Lancashire visit the links below: