Sewage contaminates village water supply (From Gazette Series)

Sewage contaminates village water supply

FIFTY homes in a small Cotswold village have been left without clean drinking water after sewage contaminated the supply.

Sewage contaminates village water supply

Kemble couple Darren Gilchrist and his fiancee Elizabeth Stepp were told their dirty water was safe to drink just three weeks ago. They are now fuming after new tests carried out by Wiltshire Council revealed the supply had been contaminated with bacteria.

The couple, along with 50 other properties in Kemble, have been told not to drink the water until further notice.

The pair, who live at The Firs, claim the filthy water is making them both ill. Elizabeth was confined to her bed for three days with a stomach bug and Darren has suffered severe headaches. Both believe the water is to blame.

Just three weeks ago Peter Brookes, head of property services at Gloucestershire Housing Association told the Standard that there was no urgency to solve the problem of the dirty water because tests showed it was safe to drink.

But new tests carried out by Wiltshire Council’s environmental health team have found the water was microbiologically contaminated with sewage.

A letter from the council was sent to all affected properties but it did not state what the microbiological contamination was.

But an independent test by Wessex Water of the supply to a property just metres from Darren and Elizabeth’s home revealed it had been contaminated with faecal coliforms- bacteria contamination from either human, animal or agricultural faeces.

Human health hazards from the bacteria include ear infections, dysentery, typhoid fever, viral and bacterial gastroenteritis, and Hepatitis A.

Wessex Water declined to comment.

A Wiltshire Council spokesman said their own results came through after routine tests on all private supplies in the area.

They said they would investigate the matter with the supplier and offer precautionary advice.

The statement read: "We would advise those affected not to drink the water until the owner of the supply rectifies the situation."

A spokesman for WC said the couple needed to seek medical advice.

Darren said he should not have to pay his £44-a-month water bill after the mistake.

He fumed: "The water is vile and the attitude of the council is disgusting. We live in the 21st century and to have to put up with unsafe water is beyond a joke.

"We feel dirty."

A GHA worker visited the properties concerned and said it would drop round 80 two-litre bottles of clean water. But Darren said this was not good enough.

"There seems to be no urgency to solve the problem," he added. "There have been times when I am shaking I am so angry."

A GHA spokesman said it was working closely with Wiltshire Council and the Environment Agency to resolve the problem. He said resident’s welfare is their primary concern and the matter is being treated as a high priority.