Conservationists allege London's rivers are being polluted with dirty water.
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A water company is to pay £3.5million to customers affected by a parasite outbreak in their water.
Local authorities in Devon were asking South West Water to offer more to businesses and households affected by a parasite in their water supply.
Now, the company has confirmed they will pay £215 to those affected.
Local residents had been unknowingly digesting a waterborne disease called Cryptosporidium – which causes symptoms such as diarrhoea and vomiting.
Two people with severe symptoms were taken to hospital.
In Brixham, where water is also supplied by South West Water, 16,000 households and businesses were told to avoid drinking tap water.
From May 16th, the water company warned customers should boil and cool their water, or buy bottled.
Local Conservative MP Anthony Mangnall, says customers should get the level of compensation they “deserve” following the outbreak. Over 15% of buildings still do not have access to safe water.
Susan Davy, Chief Executive Office of Pennon, which owns South West Water, said: “We are 100% focused on returning a safe water supply”.
Across the UK, a report by the National Engineering Policy Centre found more of us are being exposed to sewage.
They are calling on governments and water companies to protect public health by making upgrades to sewage systems.
A rise of water-based hobbies in coastal and inland waters are also putting more people at risk.
Andrew Thompson, who provided research for the report, said water companies need to act quickly to improve safety.
He said: “For me, one of the most shocking things to come out as we’re doing this report is actually that we don’t actually have much data on where the highest concentrations are.
He continues: “One of the questions put to me is, where is it safe for me to go swimming? And right now, I can’t answer that. I simply don’t know”.
The recommendations put forward in the report include improving public knowledge about water diseases and updating regulatory processes.
At the end of March, the group – which also owns Bristol Water and recently bought SES water – was in £3.5 billion debt, £3 billion more than a year earlier.
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HeadlineSouth West Water to pay £3.5m over parasite outbreak
Short HeadlineWater company paying £3.5 million in compensation
StandfirstThe South West Water company are paying £3.5 million after customers were left sick from contaminated water.
A water company is to pay £3.5million to customers affected by a parasite outbreak in their water.
Local authorities in Devon were asking South West Water to offer more to businesses and households affected by a parasite in their water supply.
Now, the company has confirmed they will pay £215 to those affected.
Local residents had been unknowingly digesting a waterborne disease called Cryptosporidium – which causes symptoms such as diarrhoea and vomiting.
Two people with severe symptoms were taken to hospital.
In Brixham, where water is also supplied by South West Water, 16,000 households and businesses were told to avoid drinking tap water.
From May 16th, the water company warned customers should boil and cool their water, or buy bottled.
Local Conservative MP Anthony Mangnall, says customers should get the level of compensation they “deserve” following the outbreak. Over 15% of buildings still do not have access to safe water.
Susan Davy, Chief Executive Office of Pennon, which owns South West Water, said: “We are 100% focused on returning a safe water supply”.
Across the UK, a report by the National Engineering Policy Centre found more of us are being exposed to sewage.
They are calling on governments and water companies to protect public health by making upgrades to sewage systems.
A rise of water-based hobbies in coastal and inland waters are also putting more people at risk.
Andrew Thompson, who provided research for the report, said water companies need to act quickly to improve safety.
He said: “For me, one of the most shocking things to come out as we’re doing this report is actually that we don’t actually have much data on where the highest concentrations are.
He continues: “One of the questions put to me is, where is it safe for me to go swimming? And right now, I can’t answer that. I simply don’t know”.
The recommendations put forward in the report include improving public knowledge about water diseases and updating regulatory processes.
At the end of March, the group – which also owns Bristol Water and recently bought SES water – was in £3.5 billion debt, £3 billion more than a year earlier.
