Water event
Devon Cryptosporidium outbreak
A Cryptosporidium outbreak in the Brixham area of south Devon caused by contamination entering the local supply network.
Key facts
- Event type
- Waterborne disease outbreak
- Started
- 2024-05-01
- Ended
- 2024-07-31
Cause
Ingress into the distribution network in the Hillhead supply area, traced to a damaged valve allowing contaminated water to enter.
Impact
- More than a hundred confirmed cases and many more probable
- Boil water notice affecting thousands of properties for several weeks
Response
Boil water notice, bottled water distribution, network flushing and disinfection.
Aftermath
Prompted regulatory investigation and renewed attention to distribution network integrity, which is a harder problem to monitor than treatment works performance.
Relationships
- Located in: England
Related intelligence
Kielder Watersame placeRutland Watersame placeChalk aquifer of southern Englandsame placeBroad Street cholera outbreaksame placeThe Great Stinksame placeCamelford water pollution incidentsame placeThe 1976 droughtsame placeThe 2022 droughtsame placeYorkshire droughtsame placeSouthern Water — record penalty for wastewater offencessame placeThames Water — Thames pollution finesame placeYorkshire Water — Ofwat enforcement packagesame place
Sources
- Peer-reviewed scientific literature — Open-access hydrology, water chemistry and water use research. Public but restricted · Publisher terms — public access, reuse not clearly granted