Residents of Brixham Fearful of Tap Water Amid Parasite Outbreak Fallout
- Residents in Brixham are hesitant to consume tap water following a parasite disease outbreak.
- Businesses in the area have suffered financial losses due to the contamination of the Hillhead reservoir.
- Rebuilding trust in the water supply will take time as the community grapples with fear and uncertainty.
Kayley Lewis and her children got sick from tap water with a parasite called cryptosporidium. They had diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach cramps for over two weeks. Kayley doesn't trust South West Water anymore. She won't drink tap water again, only use it for washing dishes. She feels really unwell and doesn't want to risk getting sick again. Many people in the area got sick too. 46 cases of the disease are confirmed, and 70 more are being checked. The UK Health Security Agency is investigating. South West Water is sorry and working hard to fix the water. They say it might take until next week to make it safe again. 2,500 homes must keep boiling their water before drinking. Steve Price, who owns a B&B, lost money because people canceled bookings. They were worried about the water. He expects to lose around £2,000. Other businesses are also having problems because of the situation.