Sewage theory in water bug probe

Households have been told water should be boiled before use Q&A: Cryptosporidium

Experts investigating a north Wales stomach bug outbreak which has struck 123 people say untreated sewage may have entered the water supply.

October's heavy rain could have caused a septic tank to fail allowing sewage into Cwellyn reservoir, said Dr Mark Walker of the outbreak control team.

Meanwhile, Welsh Water said customers might receive compensation for weeks of having to boil their drinking water.

But the cause of the outbreak of cryptosporidiosis must be found first.

Dr Walker said nothing definitive had been found yet to confirm the suspicion that untreated sewage may have penetrated the water supply.

Public health officials say the number of cases of the of the water-borne stomach bug in Gwynedd and Anglesey has risen again to 123 on Thursday.

BOIL WATER NOTICE AREAS Bangor, Beaumaris, Beddgelert Bethania, Bethel (Gwynedd), Betws Garmon Bontnewydd, Caeathro, Caernarfon Carmel (Gwynedd), Ceint, Cwm y Glo, Dinas Ffridd Uchaf, Gaerwen, Groeslon Llanberis, Llanddaniel, Llandegfan, Llandwrog Llandygai, Llanfaes, Llanfaglan Llanfairpwll, Llangoed, Llanrug Llanwnda, Menai Bridge, Nantmor Penmynydd, Penyffridd, Plas Gwynant, Pont Aberglaslyn Pont-rug, Rhosgadfan, Rhostryfan Rhyd-ddu, Seion, Vaynol Hall Waunfawr, Y Felinheli

Speaking on BBC Radio Cymru on Thursday, Welsh Water spokesman Gwyn Thomas said he regretted the inconvenience to its customers in Gwynedd and Anglesey affected by the outbreak.

When asked whether customers would be compensated, Mr Thomas said the priority at the moment was "public health" and that only after the root of the problem was discovered would the company "consider" the compensation issue.

The list of places where customers have been advised to boil their drinking water has also been extended overnight to include Llanberis in Gwynedd plus Ceint and Penmynydd on Anglesey.

Some people have criticised the lack of information, and the delay in warning all customers to boil their drinking water.

"I am still waiting for something from Welsh Water saying exactly what we should do," said Delyth Jones who runs a home for the elderly in Llanrug near Caernarfon.

"I am very angry that we haven't been told anything. We have to keep to certain standards here, I don't feel Welsh Water have been keeping theirs," she added.

But Dr Meirion Evans, a consultant with the Public Health Service told BBC Radio Cymru that information had been forwarded to people as soon as the outbreak control team had gathered the "evidence" that the bug was becoming a problem.

Despite monitoring, no trace of the bug has been found at the reservoir

One hundred and ten people have now become ill from the water-borne stomach bug. Some 70,000 households in Gwynedd and Anglesey will have to boil water for drinking until at least 9 January.

Symptoms of the cryptosporidium bug are diarrhoea and stomach cramps and it typically lasts for around a fortnight.

The Cwellyn reservoir at Rhyd-ddu in Gwynedd has been monitored since the outbreak was first confirmed a week ago but Welsh Water say the bug has not been identified there.

A Welsh Water spokesman added it was not possible to switch the supply so people received their water from another reservoir.

Helpline extended

He said: "Because this is a difficult geographical area, we cannot pipe in water from other areas. If we tankered in water, that would have to be boiled anyway.

Public health experts say the outbreak should "burn itself out", but if that has not happened by early January, the advice to boil water will be extended.

Meanwhile, the National Public Health Service for Wales has responded to criticism about difficulties getting through to their helpline.

A spokesman said the helpline would now be open an hour longer on weekdays from 0900 to 1800 GMT, and more people would be answering calls.

The helpline number is 0845 850 9850.

Meanwhile, twelve linked cases of a stomach bug have been identified in the Aberystwyth area. Four in children and eight in adults have contracted the bug giardia lamblia, which causes diarrhoea.