Industrial Estate At Centre Of Investigation Into Contaminated Water Probe

Residents in Yorkshire have been warned not to use water for drinking or cooking after an investigation into water contamination focuses on an industrial estate, according to the company involved. 

Yorkshire Water has warned 3,600 households in Thorne and the neighbouring village of Moorends of the contamination after high levels of bacteria were detected. 

The residents were first warned to not drink the water, use it for cooking or brush their teeth with it, until later laboratory tests confirmed that the water was safe to drink once boiled. 

Yorkshire Water said: “The protection of public health is our number one priority and we will only lift the new advice to boil the water as soon as it is safe to do so. We will also continue to distribute bottled water directly to the homes of our vulnerable customers.”

They also said that they are continuing to identify the exact cause of the contamination, with investigations focused on a local industrial estate in the area. 

Amandeep Dhillon, a Partner and Public Health expert lawyer at Irwin Mitchell who has vast experience of handling water contamination cases in the UK and abroad, said: 

Expert Opinion

“The discovery of a high level of bacteria in the water is extremely concerning.

“Drinking unsafe water can have a profound effect on a person’s health and can cause long-term issues, from which some victims may never fully recover.

“Protecting the general public from outbreaks like these is the main priority for the company involved. It is vital that they provide residents with all relevant instructions to eliminate the likelihood of residents becoming ill.

“A thorough investigation to determine why and how such a high level of bacteria came into the water is vital, and it is crucial that steps are taken to attempt to reduce the likelihood of an outbreak occurring again in the future.”
Amandeep Dhillon - Partner