South West Water says that around 2,500 properties in the Brixham area of Devon continue to be impacted by a boil water notice.

Around 17,000 households were impacted over the weekend. The boil water notice was initially put in place after the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed it is investigating cases of cryptosporidium, which is thought to have been caused by a damaged air valve on private farmland.

South West Water has been operating bottled water stations, and the company is also still undertaking deliveries to vulnerable customers, care homes, schools and hospitals. They are also hosting drop in sessions in the town to support customers with queries and questions.

The water company has confirmed that household customers affected are receiving an automatic payment of £115. Affected customers in the Hillhead supply area, upper parts of Brixham and the Kingswear area will be paid an additional £100 compensation – giving each customer a total of £215.

Defra reports that Ministers have been closely involved in the incident.

Meanwhile, the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) has fount that nearly 5% of private water supplies are unsuitable for drinking.

The DWI found E.coli in 4.93% of private water samples taken in England in 2023 and that 5.98% showed enterococci, both of which are indicators of faecal contamination.

The DWI also said quality had deteriorated, over half of large supplies (for more than 50 consumers) had not been tested (local authorities regulate private supplies), and chemical risks were also present.