Lancashire families told to boil tap water over bug fears

Water firm United Utilities are advising all customers to boil their water for all drinking, food preparation and teeth brushing as a precaution until further notice.

The affected areas were BB1 2LD Roman Road, BB2 5 Feniscowles, BB3 2RN, Darwen, BB3 0BH Darwen/Lower Darwen and BB3 0SD Lower Darwen.

It comes after routine tests at Franklaw Water Treatment Works in Preston detected traces of cryptosporidium – a microscopic parasite which can cause sickness and diarrhoea.

Dr. Martin Padley, United Utilities’ Chief Scientific Officer said: “We’d like to thank customers for their vast patience as we work to restore normal service”.

“However, testing will continue and the boiled water notice will not be lifted until United Utilities is absolutely satisfied that the water is back to the usual extremely high standards”, the company said in a statement.

People living in these areas do not have to boil water for bathing, flushing toilets and washing clothes, however.

The warning was issued yesterday by United Utilities which advised everyone living in Blackpool, Chorley, Fylde, Preston, South Ribble and Wyre to boil water used for drinking and preparing meals.

‘I have only just heard about it on the news. I have been in bed all week.

Concerned families have been clearing supermarket shelves of bottled water since the discovery.

They also said they had already been in contact, directly, with dialysis patients.

People at most risk for infection are young children, animal handlers, travellers and close contacts of infected people like family members and day care workers.