Following an outbreak of cryptosporidium in the Brixham area of Devon, South West Water issued a notice advising 17,000 households and businesses to boil their tap water before consuming. The UK Health Security Agency confirmed 46 cases of infection, causing illness in more than 100 people. The parasite outbreak led to hospitalizations and cancellations in the hospitality and tourism sectors.
South West Water, owned by Pennon Group, compensated affected customers with £215 per household, costing the company £3.5m. Despite lifting the boil water notice for some properties, a digital map error caused confusion, leading to further advisories and additional compensation of £75 to affected residents.
Pennon CEO Susan Davy expressed dedication to restoring safe water quality, with 85% of services now back to normal. However, criticism arose as the company raised its dividend payout to shareholders. This move was met with disapproval from union officials and politicians, calling for accountability amid past pollution fines and ongoing service disruptions.
South West Water serves 1.8 million residents in the South West of England and is expected to see revenue growth from bill increases and recent acquisitions.
Overall, the situation highlights the challenges faced by water companies in maintaining service reliability while meeting financial obligations and regulatory standards.
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