Latest news with #coliformbacteria
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Major 'do not drink' update issued to British homes after faecal bacteria was found in UK tap water
Residents of North Yorkshire can now use their tap water as normal after a boil notice issued was withdrawn. Yorkshire Water issued the notice for residents in High Bentham, Low Bentham and Lonsdale areas yesterday. The ban came after routine testing detected the presence of high levels of coliform bacteria. These bacteria are commonly found in digestive systems of animals and people and include organisms like E. coli and indicate water supply may have been contaminated with faecal matter. Residents were told to boil their water before drinking it, using it to brush their teeth or using it in food preparation. A Yorkshire Water spokesperson said: 'We can confirm we are now able to lift the boil water instruction at all affected properties in the area as the water is now back to our usual high standards.' The water ban has caused stress and anxiety among Yorkshire residents, with people 'panic buying' bottled water, according to a Bentham hotel worker. Speaking before the notice was lifted Professor Paul Hunter, an expert in infectious diseases from the University of East Anglia, said: 'I would be very surprised if Yorkshire Water issued a warning like that without detecting high levels of E. coli.' 'If you get lots of coliform then that means something in the water isn't right and indicates there's a problem that needs to be addressed', he added. Whilst most coliform bacteria won't make healthy people severely ill, consumers should be wary of E. Coli and Shigatoxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC)—a potentially life-threatening strain of the disease. Professor Hunter said: 'The main concern is diarrhoeal disease or norovirus, which could cause severe or nasty infections. While catching STEC could be fatal in vulnerable people.' STEC can also cause haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) —a life-threatening condition that can lead to kidney failure. A small proportion of adults may develop a similar condition called thrombotic thrombocytopaenic purpura a rare, life-threatening blood clotting disorder. Yorkshire Water has also advised people who feel unwell in the coming days to inform their doctor about the boil notice. While the notice has now been lifted, experts have told MailOnline the issues that likely led to the contamination of the water supplies in the region are present in every part of the nation. Dr Simon Clarke, an infectious disease expert from the University of Reading, said Britain's ageing water infrastructure meant the risk of such incidents is on the rise. 'The water and sewage infrastructure in this country is leading to regular sewage discharges into rivers, therefore there is a greater environmental spread of these bacteria,' he said. He added that coliform bacteria can also wash out from cattle and sheep fields into reservoirs that are used for drinking water supplies. But he said that in a developed country, like the UK, systems should be in place to stop this from happening. Other experts said the UK's recent warm weather could also be a factor increasing the risk of such incidents. With the country's mini heatwave seeing temperatures up to 29C (84 F), 'the unseasonably dry weather', could be the cause of the high levels of bacteria, says Dr Jonathan Paul, from the Department of Earth Sciences at Royal Holloway, University of London. 'Potentially, this could lead water companies to divert supply or use supplies, reservoirs or groundwater sources they don't normally use,' he said.
The Independent
15-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Boil order issued for tap water in 200 postcodes
Yorkshire Water issued a "do not drink" warning for tap water in nearly 200 postcodes across High Bentham, Low Bentham, and Burton in Lonsdale due to above-average levels of coliform bacteria. Coliform bacteria, often found in the digestive systems of humans and animals, can indicate the presence of harmful bacteria and cause gastrointestinal issues. Residents were advised to boil water before consumption or use bottled water provided by Yorkshire Water. After further testing and monitoring, Yorkshire Water lifted the boil water notice, confirming that the water met their usual high standards. The company apologised for the inconvenience and thanked residents for their patience.
The Sun
14-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
‘Boil tap water' warning issued after high levels of harmful bacteria discovered in UK water supply
BRITS have been urged to boil their tap water after tests uncovered high levels of harmful bacteria in the water supply. Water people intend to drink, clean their teeth or wash salad with should be boiled before use, Yorkshire Water warned. The company said it had issued a "boil order" for its customers in High Bentham, Low Bentham and Burton in Lonsdale following the discovery of coliform bacteria during routine testing. The germs widely found in the environment, particularly in water and soil. "They are a commonly used indicator of sanitary quality of foods and water," according to a report on water quality and management. While coliform bacteria themselves are generally harmless, their presence in drinking water can mean there's a risk of other, more harmful germs contaminating the water too. This is because coliform bugs - such as and Enterococci - are often found in the digestive tracts of animals and humans, suggesting faecal contamination and the presence of other disease-causing germs. Yorkshire Water said: "We regularly check our drinking water to make sure it meets our high standards and during routine tests we've found the water supply in High Bentham, Low Bentham and Burton in Lonsdale didn't meet our usual standards. "While we investigate this, we're asking all customers to boil their water as a precautionary measure to keep everyone safe. " The company explained that coliform bacteria had been found in water samples gathered during routine testing. "Whilst our treatment processes take out any impurities in the water to make sure it's of the highest quality, the coliform bacteria we have found in these samples is higher than we would normally see so as a precaution we are asking that customers boil their water before use until further notice. "Our water quality team will continue to take samples to monitor the quality of the water in the area whilst we work hard to resolve the issues. " Food Standards Agency explains E Coli Yorkshire Water said it was "working closely" with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on the matter. Customers living in the affected postcodes received hand delivered notices about the boil order. The company provided a full list of affected postcodes on their website. People in these areas who become unwell were urged to tell their doctor about the boil order if they seek medical help. As of 5:30pm on April 13, the order was still in place "until further notice". "We are working to resolve the issue and our most recent tests show that the situation has improved," the water provider said. "We will be in touch to let you know when everything is back to normal." Sun Health has contacted Yorkshire Water for further updates. But the company assured customers that "boiling your water before consuming it is sufficient protection" against the bacteria. Symptoms of an infection Escherichia coli O157, sometimes called STEC (Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli), is a bacterial infection that can cause severe stomach pain, bloody diarrhoea and kidney failure. The NHS lists the symptoms as: Diarrhoea Stomach cramps Occasionally fever About half of people with the infection will have bloody diarrhoea. People usually notice symptoms three to four days after they' ve been infected. But symptoms can start any time between one and 14 days afterwards. These symptoms can last up to two weeks. A small number of people with E. coli O157 infection go on to develop a serious condition called haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS). Symptoms of HUS include: Peeing less Tiredness Swelling Bruising This can sometimes lead to kidney failure and death, although this is rare. The risk of HUS is highest in children aged under five years. Some people become infected but don't develop symptoms. Speak to your GP if you or your child has diarrhoea and: It's particularly frequent or severe It lasts for more than seven days A severe or continuous stomach ache Weight loss Have passed a large amount of very watery diarrhoea Have signs of dehydration – including drowsiness, peeing less than usual, and feeling lightheaded or dizzy If you or your child has bloody diarrhoea contact your GP practice and ask for an urgent appointment or call NHS 111. "Studies undertaken by the World Health Organisation has concluded that boiling the water is sufficient to inactivate pathogenic bacteria, viruses and protozoa," it said. "Tap water should be boiled for a few seconds and stored in clean, covered containers in a cool place for a maximum of 24 hours." This applies to water for drinking, cleaning teeth or preparing foods people intend to eat raw, like salads or fruit. "Water for babies' feeds should be boiled - and allowed to cool - immediately before use," Yorkshire Water added. It noted that water filters won't help get rid of bacteria - instead they "may trap contamination". It urged customers not to use water filters in place of boiling. Yorkshire Water noted that it's still safe to use tap water for washing and showering, as well as washing clothes and dishes. The company said it given some customers with medical needs or who may find boiling water difficult with bottled water. For customers that may find it difficult to boil their water, we have delivered bottled water to three nearby locations. These are available while stocks last.
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
North Yorkshire 'boil tap water' alert after bacteria discovered
People in parts of North Yorkshire have been told to boil their tap water after tests showed it contained high levels of a type of Water said it had issued a "boil order" for its customers in High Bentham, Low Bentham and Burton in Lonsdale following the testing of the water supply there revealed it did not meet "our usual standards" and people affected should boil tap water "until further notice", a spokesperson for the firm said.A shopkeeper in Bentham told the BBC that since the order had been issued, she had "sold out of bottled water" on Sunday, while a member of staff at a hotel there said people in the area were "panic buying" bottles of water. The Yorkshire Water spokesperson said the firm was "really sorry" about the results of its tests and was "working hard to resolve this issue".In a statement, Yorkshire Water said "higher than usual levels of the coliform bacteria" had been discovered during routine tests of tap water in the firm's spokesperson said boiling water would offer "sufficient protection", adding that they appreciated having to do so "can be inconvenient".Yorkshire Water has been asked by the BBC to confirm how many properties in the area were affected by the "boil order" in total. The manager of a shop in Bentham, who did not want to be named, said: "We sold out of bottled water yesterday."We sold about 88 individual bottles and 19 six-packs, but we've restocked today."Meanwhile, a staff member at a hotel in Bentham, who also did not want to be named, told the BBC: "People are panic buying. We've been told to boil all our drinking water. I think it's because we've had so little rain lately."Mohamed Ezzat, owner of G & Mo's Cafe in Bentham, said: "To serve customers who want drinking water, we are having to boil water then keep it cool in the fridge."Bryan Jeffs, owner of The Black Pig Cafe, said he had stopped serving tap water altogether in favour of bottled Jeffs said people in the area had been notified about the issue through social media, texts on their phones and leaflets, but added that the information provided by Yorkshire Water "didn't really explain what the issue was".A Yorkshire Water spokesperson said bottled water had been delivered to any customer on its priority services property affected by the issue "has had a hand-delivered notice of the boil order", they water stations had been set up at the Lair Gill Car Park on Butts Lane in High Bentham, the playing field on Wenning Ave in High Bentham, and at the Recreation Ground in Burton In Lonsdale, the spokesperson added. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
