Cryptosporidium returns to town

A second drinking water warning has been issued in Langholm

Residents of a Dumfriesshire town have been left without safe drinking water for the second time in a month.

About 600 homes in Langholm were affected by a cryptosporidium warning lasting 12 days at the end of July.

The same problem has now resurfaced - with fewer houses affected - prompting advice at the weekend to boil water for drinking or food preparation.

MP David Mundell has sought a meeting with Scottish Water over the situation which he said was "unacceptable".

The parasite was found during routine monitoring of water supplies.

If heavy rainfall is now the trigger for an incident, then we know they will be happening all the time if action is not taken now David Mundell MP

"We appreciate the inconvenience that this advice to boil water will bring to people and businesses in the affected areas, but at all times our priority has to be the protection of public health," said Dr Andrew Carnon of NHS Dumfries and Galloway.

"We are continuing to monitor the situation and review the need to continue this advice.

"Further updates will be communicated to the public."

However, Mr Mundell, the MP for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale, said something had to be done to sort out the problem on a permanent basis.

He said that while the action taken had been appropriate it was not acceptable in the long term.

Mr Mubndell said Scottish Water needed to find a means of ensuring that water supply to the town met the required standards.

"If heavy rainfall is now the trigger for an incident, then we know they will be happening all the time if action is not taken now," he said.