Residents in south-east London are advised to boil water after E coli contamination was discovered in the local supply
South-East London: So, there’s been a bit of a scare with the water supply. E coli was found, and now folks are being told to boil their water. It’s a precaution, but still pretty alarming.
Residents in Brockley are especially affected. Thames Water has advised them to boil any water they use until they get the test results back. It’s a hassle, but safety first, right?
According to a notice, the water samples didn’t meet the usual quality standards. They’re looking into whether the problem is with the mains supply or the plumbing in people’s homes.
One resident, David Bowen, shared that he found out about the E coli after Thames Water tested his tap water over the weekend. Since then, he’s been boiling his water for drinking and cooking.
Thames Water also checked the homes next to his and told them to boil their water too. But it seems some neighbors have had trouble getting their water tested, which is concerning.
David mentioned that some of his more vulnerable neighbors were denied testing, which doesn’t sit right. The local MP, Vicky Foxcroft, is on it, and her office said Thames Water is providing bottled water while they sort things out.
Just a heads up, E coli can cause some nasty health issues like severe stomach cramps and vomiting. Last year, a similar situation happened in Devon with a different parasite, and people had to boil their water for over a month.
There are also whispers that the safety of tap water in the UK might be at risk. Apparently, water companies can’t use certain cleaning products because the labs that test them have shut down.
A spokesperson from Thames Water said they found traces of E coli during routine testing. They’re working with the affected resident and have issued a boil water notice while they investigate further.
They believe the contamination might be from the tap or the internal plumbing. They’re advising the resident on how to flush the taps to get clean water flowing again.
It’s a bit of a mess, and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has been contacted for more info.
