Tap water drinking ban lifted after contamination scare » Communities » 24dash.com

A ban on drinking tap water has been lifted on all customers affected by a contamination scare, a water company announced today.

Anglian water gave the formal announcement today that the boil notice in Northamptonshire had been lifted with immediate effect.

Customers will also receive goodwill payments totalling nearly £3 million, the company said.

About 250,000 customers were told not to drink tap water last week after after tests showed it was contaminated with Cryptosporidium.

The microscopic parasite can cause severe stomach upsets, especially in young or elderly people.

Today, an Anglian Water spokesman said the decision to lift the notice had been made with the Health Authority and Local Authorities.

He said: "The decision to lift the notice for all affected customers has been taken following an accelerated cleaning and flushing programme over the week.

"Anglian Water would like to thank its employees and suppliers who have worked tirelessly to make this possible."

The spokesman said green 'all clear' notices would be posted to Northampton customers tonight, and notices for people in Daventry would be sent over the weekend.

He added: "Anglian Water is to make a goodwill payment to customers in Northampton, Daventry and the surrounding areas for the inconvenience caused by the boil notice put in place on Wednesday 25 June after tests detected cryptosporidium in the water supply.

"It is estimated that total goodwill payments will approach £3 million and this cost will not be passed on to customers in any form.

"The payment will be made in the form of a credit equivalent to six weeks' free water supply, based on customers' past annual water bills. This will be up to a maximum of £30 per household and full details will follow in a letter to customers.

"We believe that this is the fairest approach as it is proportional to customers' water usage and therefore benefits those that have been most inconvenienced."

Cases where businesses think they deserve a further goodwill payment will be considered individually.

Anglian Water Chief Executive Jonson Cox, said: "Our customers have been understanding, patient and helpful throughout this incident.

"I am delighted that today we are able to lift this notice for all of those affected.

"I am particularly pleased that we have been able to remove the restrictions for customers in the Daventry area up to a fortnight earlier than originally anticipated.

"We apologise unreservedly to our customers for the inconvenience caused by asking them to boil their drinking water and thank them for their tolerance and patience while we put it right.

"Our overriding priority throughout has been to safeguard public health.

Last week's announcement led to schools being closed, supermarkets running out of bottled water, and warnings that the crisis could last for weeks.

The company isolated the contamination to the Pitsford Water Treatment Works, and treated it with ultraviolet light

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary Hilary Benn yesterday said he had been told by the Chief Inspector of Drinking Water that there was no contamination of the water supply, but he praised agencies for working "extremely well".