South West Water has issued a Boil Water Notice following the identification of small traces of the cryptosporidium organism identified over the last 24 hours - cryptosporidium can cause sickness and diarrhoea if consumed.

Image: South West Water service update - Boil Water Notice affected areas 

Customers in Alston and the Hillhead area of Brixham are being advised to boil their drinking water and allowing it to cool before consuming following new test results for cryptosporidium. This applies to water used for drinking, cooking, preparing food or brushing teeth.

South West Water said that the data from tests over the last several weeks showed that the treated water leaving treatment works was not contaminated. However, in the Hillhead section of the water company’s network further tests taken overnight have identified small traces of cryptosporidium. The water company is working with the advice of the UK Health Security Agency and with public health partners to urgently investigate the source.

Bottled water stations are being set up in the affected areas and the company is delivering bottled water to vulnerable customers.

All customers who have been issued with the Boil Water Notice will receive an automatic payment of £15, as part of South West Water’s Customer Promise when services are interrupted.

Latest press reports say “hundreds” of people in Brixham, Devon have fallen ill, based on multiple posts on social media – figures are as yet unconfirmed.