Bacteria found in water supply

8:24am Friday 28th September 2007

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VILLAGERS have been left with upset stomachs after high levels of bacteria were discovered in the water supply.

Warnings to boil water, even for cooking, were issued on Friday and lasted four days after routine tests in Cowling revealed levels of bacteria "higher than the allowed standards".

“Many residents feel they or the village should be compensated in some way for all the disruption and desperately await a time when the village will return to normal.”

Kathryn Wilson

Bottled water was delivered to Cowling CP School, Langdale Nursing Home in Keighley Road and the football ground - to be collected by residents.

But villagers are angry that Yorkshire Water, which is carrying out work in Cowling as part of a major scheme including Glusburn, Cross Hills and Sutton, was slow to act.

Kathryn Wilson, who compiles the village website, said: "Residents have expressed concern over the time taken issuing the boil order.

"It was also noted that Cowling Primary School were informed of the situation at lunchtime on Friday, but many households were not notified until much later in the evening and had been using water during this time. Many people have been suffering with stomach upsets."

She said information leaflets were hand-delivered to homes from Friday afternoon telling people to boil water for drinking, cleaning teeth and preparing food to minimise risk of illness.

"The leaflet states that, in themselves, the bacteria detected are quite harmless but they do indicate that the water quality is not up to its usual standard and there is a risk that other more harmful bacteria may be present."

But it was not common knowledge that bottled water had been left at the football ground.

"Supplies were also left at two sites previously used as children's day nurseries, now both private residences, as the list of premises needing water supplies for vulnerable groups was out of date," said Mrs Wilson.

A spokeswoman for Yorkshire Water confirmed that customers had been instructed to boil their water as a precaution following a routine test.

She said warnings had been issued to homes along the A6068 corridor beyond Glusburn to Cowling.

"Yorkshire Water staff and crews from Balfour Beatty Utilities worked around the clock on Saturday and Sunday to clean and disinfect the mains and service reservoirs as a precaution after routine inspection of drinking water quality highlighted the possibility that the supply may have been contaminated with bacteria in the area around Cowling, Middleton and Ickornshaw," she said.

"Following this work, all samples taken have proved clear, with no traces of any contamination and, after consultation with all the relevant agencies, the boil order was lifted at 12 midday on Tuesday.

"We would like to thank customers for their patience and understanding whilst we worked to resolve this problem."

Meanwhile, Mrs Wilson said that the village was beginning to feel like it was under siege.

"Since April, 2005, there has been a constant stream of works carried out by various companies with roads closed, diversions and traffic lights becoming part of daily life," she said.

"Many residents feel they or the village should be compensated in some way for all the disruption and desperately await a time when the village will return to normal."

l Residents can find latest information at www.cowlingweb.co.uk or at www.yorkshirewater.com.