Now South London’s water supply is being tested for the virus

Croydon MP Steve Reed hit out at monopoly water companies today after reports of illness among people in south London prompted Thames Water to test its supplies for possible contamination.

People in Beckenham and Sydenham have fallen ill in recent days with stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhea – symptoms similar to those found in more than 100 cases in Devon last week of a water-borne disease, as the public was asked to boil water due to contamination fears.

“Our water industry is being destroyed,” said Reed, Labour’s environment spokesman. “Just a few days ago, an outbreak of the parasite sickened people in Devon. Now Beckenham’s drinking water may not be safe to drink.”

Cryptosporidium was found in Brixham’s water supply 10 days ago, forcing South West Water to tell 17,000 households and businesses in the area not to use their tap water for drinking without boiling it and cool it first.

Residents of Beckenham have been struck by a stomach bug, the Guardian reports, include “a four-year-old boy who was vomiting for days and an adult woman who was so sick that she went to the hospital with stomach pains, vomiting and dehydration.”

Fight them on the beaches: Steve Reed and Labor will not renationalise non-monopoly water companies

The paper reports: “Whole families have reported feeling sick and fear it may be caused by a bug in the water.

“After reporting the problem to Thames Water, the unwell people said technicians came to take samples of the tap water.

“Thames Water has confirmed that its technicians have collected samples, which have been sent for laboratory analysis.”

Today, a Thames Water spokesman said: “We take the quality of our water very seriously – it is the highest quality drinking water in the world – and since 2010, over 99.95% of tests carried out from customers’ taps have met the standard required by UK and European legislation.

“Each year we carry out over 500,000 tests, taking samples from source to tap. Customers can find water supply information by entering their postcode on our website.”

In Devon, 2,500 properties remain under “boil tap water notices” as the system continues to be flushed and no date has been given to those properties for when the water will be safe to drink again.

Read more: Whether it’s your water supplier or MP, you deserve a choice
Read more: Saving the water companies is poor – and unpopular – policy

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