The council is also suggesting other sources of water, where available, should be used. Action is being taken to remedy the situation and further tests will be carried out in a week or so.
The council said this week that 26 properties were found to be affected after routine samples had been analysed. Tehnical officer for pollution, Mervyn Westwood, confirms in the letter that the tested waters were polluted by Coliform and E. Coli organisms.
E. Coli has a natural presence in the soil and its risk to public health is dependent on a number of factors — the level of contamination, number of people on the supply and the state of health and likely immunity of people drinking the water.
Mr Westwood adds that the results indicate varying degrees of bacteriological contamination and therefore corrective treatment may be necessary to ensure the water for drinking is of the required quality. A council spokeswoman added that the situation could have been affected by adverse weather.
“Tests are taken twice a year of private water supplies and this supply fully met required standards last time. Another sample test will be made in a week or so and further advice will be issued if necessary,” she said. “This is not a common occurrence, but it does happen.”
Owner Don Walker, of High Trees Farm, said that all filters were being cleaned up and a stop tap, that has “gone past the sell-by date” was being changed. I hope that in a week or so we will be back to normal. I would be disappointed if we are not.”
